MOSCOW. April 6 (Interfax-AVN) - More than 4,000 servicemen of Russian air and missile defense forces, including over 1,000 officers, have gained combat experience in the Syria campaign, the Commander of the Air and Missile Defense Forces and Deputy Commander of the Aerospace Forces, Lt. Gen. Viktor Gumyonny, said in an interview published on Friday in the Defense Ministry's newspaper, Krasnaya Zvezda.
"Officers of air defense and radio-technical forces have acquired combat experience. They are now among the best trained servicemen in the force or, to be more exact, the most battle-hardened," Gumyonny said.
These officers "can make decisions and accomplish combat missions at full intensity and at the maximum technical capacity of their weapons," he said.
"The officers will be the backbone of new units and primary candidates for promotion," Gumyonny said.
The experience gained during the Syria campaign is being reviewed, and modifications are being made to the statutory documents of the Aerospace Forces, as well as to training programs for combat forces, military academies, and military schools, Gumyonny said.
"In training, there will be a greater focus on operations in new position areas, march training, protection from attacks by sabotage-and-reconnaissance groups, and measures against drones," he said.