MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - Russian warships and Ilyushin Il-38 aircraft have trained a submarine chase in the Mediterranean, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.
"At this stage of the exercise, the warships acted together with marine aviation to track down and monitor a mock enemy's submarine, to exchange target maneuvering data, and to train elements of engagement of various types of air-launched weapons," the ministry said.
Earlier reports said that a number of NATO naval groups were operating in the Mediterranean.
An anti-submarine warfare drill in the Eastern Mediterranean involving warships of the Russian Pacific, Northern and Black Sea Fleets, such as the Varyag and Marshal Ustinov missile cruisers, the Admiral Kasatonov and Admiral Grigorovich frigates, and the Admiral Tributs and Vice-Admiral Kulakov destroyers, has been reported by the Russian Defense Ministry.
The ministry said that the exercise supervised by Russian Navy Commander Nikolai Yevmenov was taking place in the Eastern Mediterranean on February 15-25. More than 15 warships and over 30 aircraft are participating in the training.