Russian Mi-8 transport and combat helicopters and Mi-24 attack helicopters have been transferred from Novosibirsk Region to Tajikistan's Gissar airfield to participate in a trilateral exercise at the Harb-Maydon training range 20 kilometers from the border with Afghanistan. This was reported to journalists by the press service of the Central Military District.
"The delivery of four combat vehicles from Russia was carried out by a heavy transport aircraft An-124-100 Ruslan. During the main stage of the joint exercise, the crews of army aviation will provide the landing of tactical landing and air support to the advancing troops during the destruction of an illegal armed formation," the statement said.
The press service specified that before transportation the helicopters were partially disassembled, and upon arrival at the destination airfield the engineering and technical staff assembled the equipment, and the pilots flew around the machines.
Exercises of Russia, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan will be held at the training ground in Harb-Maydon from August 5 to 10.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu earlier said at a meeting of SCO defense ministers in Dushanbe that the countries will train practical actions to destroy armed formations, conduct aerial reconnaissance and protect facilities. Altogether 2,500 servicemen, including 1,800 from Russia, and about 500 units of arms and military hardware will be involved. The core of the Russian military contingent at the exercise will be units of the 201st military base.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS