MOSCOW. Nov 1 (Interfax) - Russian and Egyptian units using Igla-S systems have "destroyed' a hypothetical enemy's helicopters in a joint exercise near Cairo, the press service for the Southern Military District said on Friday.
" Russian and Egyptian units using Igla-S MANPADS destroyed the fire support helicopters of the energy's ground forces for the first time in the joint exercise Arrow of Friendship 2019," the military said in a report.
The two countries' troops held team training for five days before the start of the exercise, the report said.
"According to the exercise script, the tank units of the Egyptian group march to the designated area for a counter-attack and for restoration of the situation on the frontline. According to the reconnaissance, a hypothetical enemy's helicopters are to attack the ground group from a flank. For their destruction, one of the units is assigned actions from an ambush, for which it will march to the designated area. The others will continue air protection of the tank troops during the march during a counter-attack," the press service for the Southern Military District said.
"The tank unit comprises a platoon operating Igla-S systems. Air defense troops on all-terrain vehicles are practicing air protection," the report said, citing Lieut. Col. Roman Depelyan, commander of the air defense battalion.
According to the Southern Military District, the exercise will involve planes and helicopters of the Egyptian Air Force. The Egyptian Ground Forces troops using Russian BMP-2 combat infantry vehicles are imitating a tank unit. To make the situation as close to combat as possible, Egyptian radiation, chemical and biological protection troops will be involved, who will designate a conditionally contaminated site and will conceal the re-deployment of the troops, positon and launch positions of the air defense systems.
The joint exercise of the Russian and Egyptian air defense forces Arrow of Friendship is being conducted for the first time and is taking place on the territory of the African continent in the period between October 26 and November 7. The exercise was organized in accordance with the Russian Defense Ministry's international activities plan for 2019 and is aimed at strengthening and developing military cooperation between the two countries. Over 10,000 servicemen of the Southern Military District are representing the Russian Defense Ministry in the joint exercise, the press service said.