ST.PETERSBURG. Feb 1 (Interfax-AVN) - The Leningrad military district headquarters will host a missile and artillery conference of the district's air defense on Saturday, spokesman for the headquarters Colonel Vladimir Kupryakov told Interfax- Military News Agency.
The conference will be attended by Major General Vladimir Smayev, head of combat training in the air defense of the Land Forces, Kupryakov said. Participants in the event are expected to analyze training results demonstrated by the district's air defense in 2001, as well as results of tactical exercises with live firing held at the Ashuluk training ground and at the proving range of the Yeisk training center.
Besides, the officials are planning to discuss the main spheres of training in the district's air defense for 2002, consider experience in organization and conduction of combat training and use it for elaboration of recommendations on organization and conduction of live firing.
"When air defense units of the districts could not relocate to the state training ground due to lack of funds, we had to conduct even combat firing of Osa surface-to-air missile systems at the Luzha artillery proving range. Now the situation has improved and there is a possibility to practice accomplishment of complicated missions at a state training ground in close-to- combat conditions," Kupryakov said.