DUSHANBE. Nov 23 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian and Tajik search-and-rescue forces will practise recue of aircraft crews in distress for four days here under the supervision of Colonel General Vitaly Pavlov, commander of the Land Forces army aviation, a spokesman for the Russian operations group in Tajikistan said on Friday.
Pavlov will check the readiness of forces to saving crews of distressed planes and helicopters which accomplish missions under the auspices of the anti-terrorist operation in Afghanistan. The training will happen in close-to-combat conditions.
Before leaving for Dushanbe Pavlov said that the search-and-rescue groups were established on the basis of the Russian 201st motorized rifle division, Russian aircraft group in Tajikistan and Tajik Air Force.
According to him, plans on the groups' activities in various combat conditions in Afghanistan and other Central Asian areas were developed as well.
Pavlov refused to comment on the tactics of operations which are to be carried out by the groups. "We gained considerable experience in saving crews of tracked-down planes and helicopters during our stay in Afghanistan and we will use it now," Pavlov added.
The general commanded a separate mixed aircraft regiment of the Soviet limited military contingent which was stationed in Kabul in the early 1980s.