Crews of five Russian Navy ships, including the missile cruiser Moskva, frigates Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov, repelled an attack by a simulated enemy and trained air defense forces at exercises in the Mediterranean Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters.
"During the joint exercise of the forces of the permanent operational connection of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea and the aviation of the Russian Air Force, which began on June 25 in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the crews of the ships worked out tasks to repel the attack of the air enemy means and conducted training of air defense forces. Air defense squadrons improved their practical skills in the repulsion of air attacks," the ministry said.
The ministry stressed that "special attention was paid to countering aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles of the imaginary enemy".
According to the idea of exercises the ships together with submarines Stary Oskol and Rostov-na-Donu and anti-submarine aircraft Tu-142MK and IL-38, long-range bombers Tu-22M3 and aircraft MiG-31K perform training and combat missions for ensuring the security of airbase Khmeimim and logistic support point of the Russian Navy in Tartus (Syria).
MiG-31 fighters
MiG-31K fighters armed with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and Tu-22M3 long-range bombers made training flights accompanied by Su-35 and Su-34 fighters during exercises in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.
"Within the framework of the joint exercise, the crews of MiG-31K aircraft, which have the ability to use the latest hypersonic missiles from the Kinzhal complex, and long-range Tu-22M3 bombers made regular training flights in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, during which they carried out tasks to master the air space in the sea zone," the military department said.
According to the Defense Ministry, "during the exercises the MiG-31K fighters carried out electronic missile launches against an opponent". According to the ministry, training flights of MiG-31K and long-range Tu-22M3 bombers were conducted accompanied by Su-35 fighters and Su-34 fighter-bombers of Russia.
According to the military department, in the course of training flights, they test aircraft and equipment in difficult climatic conditions, including high temperatures. Long flights over water surfaces are also practiced.
The exercise takes place against the background of the approach to the waters of the Mediterranean Sea of the British aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth, on which there are 10 American F-35s under British command, with a group of ships.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS