MINSK. Feb 16 (Interfax) - Belarusian and Russian pilots have simulated an air-to-air encounter during the two countries' Union Resolve 2022 joint military exercise.
"Belarusian pilots operating [Sukhoi] Su-30SM planes and their Russian colleagues on Su-35S planes simulated a pair-against-pair mid-air encounter, flying at low altitudes of 200 to 1,000 meters," the Belarusian Defense Ministry said.
The planes took turns imitating the mock enemy, while the task of the attacking aircraft was to tail the mock enemy plane and to simulate its destruction, the Defense Ministry said.
Russia and Belarus are conducting a preparedness check of the Union State's rapid response forces. Troops were redeployed and a contingent was formed at the first stage, which ended on February 9, and the Union Resolve 2022 exercise is taking place at the second stage, between February 10 and February 20.
The exercise involves Belarusian forces and units of the Russian Eastern Military District, Aerospace Forces and Airborne Forces. S-400 Triumph long-range air defense missile systems, Pantsir-S short-range air defense missile systems, Sukhoi Su-35 fourth-generation multirole fighter jets, and Su-25SM attack planes were deployed from Russia to Belarus.
The exercise is taking place at several locations across Belarus: four training ranges (Obuz Lesnovsky, Osipovichi, Brest, and Gozha), several terrains and four airfields (Baranovichi, Luninets, Lida, and Machulishchi).
The Belarusian General Staff has said that the Russian troops would leave the country when the exercise is over.