STRUGI KRASNYE RANGE (Pskov region). Aug 26 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian and Belarusian paratroopers will be airdropped near Pskov during Interaction 2015 exercises of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Collective Operative Reaction Force (CSTO CORF), Russian Airborne Forces Commander Col. Gen. Vladimir Shamanov has told reporters.
"On August 28, the final day of the exercises, about 400 servicemen of the 31st separate air assault (peacekeeping) brigade and the 98th airborne division of the Russian Airborne Forces and the 103rd separate mobile special operations brigade of the Belarusian Armed Forces will be airdropped by Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft," the commander said.
On that day, about 300 paratroopers of the 31st brigade will jump with D-10 parachutes on an unfamiliar drop zone, Kislovo, and nine BMD-2 airborne infantry combat vehicles will be airdropped together with then. At the same time, a joint landing force comprising of about 70 servicemen of the 98th division and 20 Belarusian special operations officers will jump with Russian-made special parachutes Arbalet-2 on the Krugi Krasnye range. "The paratroopers will land and accomplish their missions," Shamanov said.
"Twelve Ilyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces will airlift troops and hardware to the drop zone and airdrop them," the commander said.