MOSCOW. April 18 (Interfax-AVN) - The forces of the Central Air Defense Zone have been inspected for readiness to deal with terror threats under the supervision of Air Force Commander Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, Russian Air Force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky told Interfax-AVN.
Checks have been conducted on how efficiently the air defense forces of the former Moscow air force and air defense district can prevent terror operations, unauthorized takeoffs and other violations of the rules of using air space," Drobyshevsky said.
A surface-to-air missile regiment of the Special Command (the former Moscow air force and air defense district) was called up on April 17 and was airlifted by transport warplanes to the Ashuluk training ground in the Astrakhan region, he said. "The regiment performed a firing drill with S-300 missile systems," Drobyshevsky said.
Similar checks have been launched in other air defense zones, said Drobyshevsky.