MOZDOK, December 7 (AVN) - The federal airfield in the North Ossetian town of Mozdok lacks ground personnel for servicing Su-25 fighters and Su-24 front-line bombers taking part in the Chechnya campaign, a spokesman for the aviation group headquarters said on Tuesday.
The situation results from lack of rear and maintenance specialists in permanent locations of airplane units, the spokesman told the Military News Agency. After a recent personnel reduction, several aviation wings have only one armament specialist, he said. In a situation when each plane drops dozens of bombs and missiles on guerrilla positions daily, at least 11 persons are necessary to service a wing.
The General Staff and the Air Force Staff are considering setting up an aviation maintenance base in Mozdok, the spokesman said. So far, Mozdok only has an aviation commandant's office which is unable to meet all demands of the aviation group.