Seven countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will test the combat readiness of the Joint Air Defense System (JADS) during a training session that began on Friday. In particular, the use of air defense forces against aircraft violating the state borders of the CIS countries will be practiced, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters.
Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are participating in the exercise, which began at 8:00 Moscow time. They manage the JADS from the control center of the Russian Aerospace forces in Moscow. "As part of the training, the issues of using the air defense forces on duty for aircraft that violate the rules of use of airspace, aircraft that violate the state borders of the CIS member states, for hijacked aircraft, as well as for providing assistance to the crews of aircraft in distress will be worked out," the Ministry said.
The training involves more than 130 command posts in seven countries, more than 60 aircraft, including Su-27, MiG-29, MiG-31 and Yak-130 fighters, Su-24 and Su-34 front-line bombers, Su-25 attack aircraft, Tu-22 and Tu-160 heavy bombers.
"The aircraft crews will conduct mutual maneuvers in the airspace of seven countries participating in the training," the Ministry added.
Russian fighter jets have recently been flying almost daily to escort aircraft of NATO countries trying to approach the borders of the Russian Federation. As Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported on September 5, the intensity of the use of NATO reconnaissance aircraft near the borders of Russia increased by more than 30% compared to last year. According to him, in August last year there were 87 such flights, and now - about 120.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Mikhail Metzel / TASS
Based on materials from TASS