MOSCOW, August 7. /TASS/. Units and formations of the 3rd Air Force and Air Defense Command in the Far East and Eastern Siberia have joined the new 11th Air Force and Air Defense Army, Eastern Military District spokesman, Colonel Alexander Gordeyev said on Friday.
The new army will protect over 22,000 km (13,670 miles) of land and sea borders, he said.
The army reformatting aims to increase the efficiency of troops’ control, the spokesman said.
"The area of the formation’s responsibility incudes the airspace of 11 Russian regions and over 22,000 kilometers of land and sea state border," he said.
The army will operate Sukhoi Su-30SM, Su-30M-2 and the newest Su-35S fighter jets, and also S-300 and S-400 air defense missile systems and Tor-M2U antiaircraft missile systems.
The new formation will also have Mil Mi-8AMTSh and Kamov Ka-52 helicopters.
It was reported earlier this week that the 14th Air Force and Air Defense Army had been formed in the Central Military District to integrate the units and formations of the 2nd Air Force and Air Defense Command in the Volga area, the Urals and Siberia.
Also, a similar army will appear in the Russian Northern Fleet.