MOSCOW. Feb 15 (Interfax) - The Russian Black Sea Fleet's air force practiced tracking down and destroying a mock enemy group of landing ships during a defense exercise in Crimea, the fleet's press service said on Tuesday.
"According to the scenario of the exercise, Forpost and Orlan unmanned aerial vehicles conduced reconnaissance and spotted a mock enemy unit of landing ships in the sea. The Black Sea Fleet's large landing ships and missile boats posed as the mock enemy," the press service said.
After receiving the targets' coordinates from the drones, Sukhoi Su-24 bombers and Su-27 fighter jets from the fleet's air force simulated dropping bombs on the targets at sea.
"The planes also practiced evading the mock enemy ships' air defenses during the exercise," it said.
The Black Sea Fleet's ships, air force and coast guard units are conducting maneuvers as part of preparations for a major naval exercise to be supervised by the Russian Navy commander.