YEKATERINBURG. Sept 16 (Interfax) - Russian Sukhoi Su-25SM attack planes have fired missiles in the course of an exercise held in Kyrgyzstan amid the complicated situation in Afghanistan.
"The exercise involved ten planes and over 400 servicemen, including from the flight control group, ground and airfield technical support, communications, security, and fire brigade units," the Central Military District's press service said.
Su-25SM attack planes from Russia's Kant airbase in Kyrgyzstan destroyed mock enemy sites at the Edelweiss highland aviation range in the Issyk-Kul region.
Su-25SM pilots have trained striking ground targets with S-8 unguided air-launched missiles on the move and on second approach, the press service said. The pilots also trained evasion of air defense and use of active infrared decoys.
"Russian pilots perform flights and use air-launched weapons in strict compliance of the agreement with the Kyrgyz Defense Ministry," the press service said.
Su-25 is designed to destroy small-sized mobile and immobile ground targets, and low-speed airborne targets.
Russia's Kant combined military base is situated in the Chui region of Kyrgyzstan. It's an element of the Collective Rapid Reaction Force that contributes to the provision of the airspace security of Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states. The base operates Su-25 attack planes and Mi-8 helicopters.