ORENBURG. Sept 16 (Interfax) - A number of aircraft belonging to the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) have been relocated to an area near the Russian city of Orenburg to take part in the Center 2019 military exercise, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"Twenty-three crews of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force have been relocated to the Orenburg airfield from their permanent bases to take part in the Center 2019 strategic command post exercise," it said.
"Crews of J-11 fighter aircraft, JH-7a fighter-bombers, H-6k long-range bombers, Il-76 and Y-9 military transport aircraft, Mi-171 military transport helicopters, and Z-10 attack helicopters have arrived at the Russian military airfield," it said.
"During the exercise, pilots of tactical, long-range, military transport, and army aircraft of the PLA Air Force will have to carry out their missions," it said.
The H-6k bomber is a version of the Xian H-6 bomber, a licensed copy of the Soviet Tu-16 jet bomber. The H-6k is capable of carrying CJ-10A and Dong Feng 21 missiles armed with nuclear warheads.
Approximately 128,000 troops, over 20,000 weapons and military vehicles, about 600 aircraft, and up to 15 ships and support vessels are taking part in the Center 2019 exercise, and military units from China, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are expected to take part in the main Russian military maneuvers of the year.
The principal phase of the exercise will be held at six combined arms ranges in the Orenburg, Chelyabinsk, Kurgan, Astrakhan, and Kemerovo regions, Dagestan, the Altai territory, and on the Caspian from September 16-21.