YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK. April 18 (Interfax-AVN) - The Eastern Military District is implementing an extensive program of troop rearming with a focus on units deployed in Sakhalin and on the Kuril Islands, district commander Col. Gen. Sergei Surovikin said.
"The military units of the district stationed on Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands are being actively rearmed. More than 350 pieces of the newest armaments have been delivered within the past three years. The delivery of over 120 pieces of armor, special-purpose and automobile hardware is due this year," Surovikin said at a meeting of the district military board in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk on Friday.
In all, the district procured over 1,500 pieces of brand new hardware in 2013, the commander said. "We are expecting the delivery of more than 500 of the newest weapons this year," he added.
The district has been armed with modern fighter jets Sukhoi Su-35 and Su-30SM, combat helicopters Kamov Ka-52 and transport and assault helicopters Mil Mi-8 AMTSh. The district possesses Bal coastal missile systems, S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems designed and manufactured by concern NPO Almaz-Antei, and Pantsir-S air defense and artillery systems and Iskander-M operative and tactical missile systems made by NPO High Precision Weapons.
The commander lauded the outstanding combat qualities of fighter jets Sukhoi Su-35, which were transferred to the district in Komsomolsk-on-Amur in February in the presence of the Russian Defense Minister.
'These are unique planes and their combat powers have no match in the world. The air force unit of the Eastern Military District was the first in the Armed Forces to procure them," the general said.
More than 20 pilots have been retrained to operate these fighter jets, he said.