MOSCOW. Oct 21 (Interfax) - Surface groups of the Black Sea Fleet jointly with squadrons of an air force army and air-defense forces of the Southern Military District are conducting a routine inter-service exercise in the Black Sea as part a final test of Southern Military District troops for the summer training period, the Black Sea Fleet's press service said on Thursday.
"During the exercise the naval crews are interacting with the aviation within a reconnaissance and strike system, defending critical facilities of the coastal infrastructure of the Crimean peninsula, and countering surface groups of a mock enemy in a maritime zone," the statement said.
Throughout the exercise the air and naval forces alternately act out as "friend" and "foe" to ensure the bilateral principle of training-mission execution and non-standard and unconventional decision-making by unit commanders, the press service said
In all, the exercise involves some 8,000 troops and around 350 items of weapons and equipment from the district's combined arms armies, air force and air defense units, armed service branches, and logistics troops, Black Sea Fleet and Caspian Flotilla forces.