MINSK. July 10 (Interfax) - The Belarusian Armed Forces signal troops and units of the Russian Armed Forces signal troops began special tactical drills in Belarus on Monday, the republic's Defense Ministry said.
"These drills are a final practical stage of the signal troops' preparation to the Zapad 2017 joint strategic exercises of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation, during which a communications system will be deployed on new upgraded communications equipment and complexes, which are brought into the Armed Forces' service," a statement posted on the ministry's official website said.
"The main goal of the event is to increase the level of preparedness and capacity of command bodies and communications troops to ensure well-organized deployment of a communications system and signal troops of the regional group of troops, steady functioning in the interests of control of troops during an operation of the regional group of troops, as well as gradual and effective preparation to joint strategic drills," the ministry also said.
Servicemen of the communications directorate of the General Staff, large units, military units and communications units of the Belarusian Armed Forces, as well as the chief communications directorate, the communications directorate of the Western Military District, military units and detachments of the Russian Armed Forces communications troops are taking part in the drills.
During the special tactical drills it is planned "to ensure well-orchestrated maneuver of military units and communications detachments to the deployment areas of communications hubs and communications lines and to set up communications in the interests of communications hubs of mobile command points," the Defense Ministry said. At the same time, interaction between the Armed Forces communications system and the common Belarusian telecommunications network and the Russian Armed Forces communications system should be ensured in the interests of command of the troops.
The drills will last until July 14.
The Zapad 2017 joint Belarusian-Russian strategic exercises will be held in Belarus in September.