PETROPAVLOVSK-KAMCHATSKY. Sept 9 (Interfax) - More than 20 airplanes and helicopters from a combined aviation regiment stationed in the northeast of Russia are taking part in a tactical flight exercise on the Kamchatka Peninsula, the press service for the Russian Pacific Fleet said on Thursday.
The participants in the exercise will practice the tasks of combat employment of MiG-31, Ilyushin Il-38, and Antonov An-12 planes and Kamov Ka-27 and Ka-29 helicopters, the press service said.
During the first stage of the drills, MiG-31BN high-altitude fighter jets and an An-12 transport plane relocated to the western airfield Ugolnye Kopi amid mock enemy electronic countermeasures. Ground support units arranged communication with the crews using primary and backup frequencies and ensured radar support for the pilots.
The next stage will see a unit of four Il-38 anti-submarine planes hunt mock enemy submarines and surface ships and destroy them with bombs.
During the tactical flight exercise, Ka-29 helicopters will eliminate mock enemy sabotage and reconnaissance groups and will conduct a landing operation on the Pushchino airfield. A pair of Ka-27PS helicopters, in turn, will look for and evacuate from water a mannequin imitating a person in distress.
The objective of the exercise is to help further perfect the skills of crews operating fighter jets, anti-submarine, and transport aircraft during reconnaissance and operations to track airborne targets, surface ships, and submarines. During the training, the pilots will perform flights in remote and close-range zones, acting in pairs and in squadrons and using onboard weapons.