MOSCOW. Oct 28 (Interfax) - Russian air defense troops have arrived at a military airfield near Cairo for a first joint air defense exercise with Egypt, the Southern Military District said.
"The Russian participants in the Arrow of Friendship 2019 Russian-Egyptian air defense exercise have arrived in the Arab Republic of Egypt," the statement reads.
The troops flew over 1,500 kilometers on an Ilyushin Il-76 military transport aircraft, it said.
"For the first time during the joint exercise Russian air defense troops will practice aerial target destruction using the Russian-made weapons - surface-to-air missile systems Tor-M2E and Buk-M2E (the export variants of the Buk-M2), the anti-aircraft self-propelled weapon system ZSU-24-3 Shilka and the man-portable air defense system Igla - which are in service of the Egyptian Defense Ministry," the military said.
During one episode of the exercise, the Russian troops will be testing a variety of skills in hot African weather for the first time.
The exercise involves over 100 Russian air defense troops. The Ground Force is represented by antiaircraft units and Southern Military District units based in the Volgograd region, Krasnodar Territory, North Ossetia and Crimea, the Southern Military District said.
The two countries' troops will practice cohesion among command and control centers, fighting vehicle crews, and units advancing into launch positions, and will hold a live fire practice, preparation and conduct of hostilities. The exercise will conclude with repulsion of a mock enemy attack.
Earlier the district's press service stated that Russia and Egypt will hold their first joint air defense exercise using short- and medium-range air systems.
The exercise is held from October 26 to November 7.
Egypt is among Russia's biggest partners in military-technical cooperation.
In 2014 the two countries signed a package of relevant contracts worth approximately $3.5 billion, whereby Russia was to supply Egypt with air defense systems, artillery, aviation and small arms.
During an air show at Le Bourget in June 2017 Rosoboronexport chief Alexander Mikheyev told Interfax that Russia had started the delivery of MiG-29 jet fighters to Egypt. Earlier in late April an Egyptian deputy defense minister told Interfax that several MiG-29 had already arrived. According to some data, Egypt was to receive a total of 46 units of the aircraft.
In 2017 Russia started implementing a contract to supply Egypt with 46 Kamov Ka-52 "Alligator" attack helicopters. The two countries were also in talks over signing a contract for the delivery of carrier-based Ka-52K helicopters for Mistral-class assault ships.