KHANKALA. May 6 (Interfax-AVN) - The command of the federal army aviation in the North Caucasus has been ordered to provide aerial coverage to all railway trains in the Chechen territory, a spokesman for the unified federal headquarters told Interfax- Military News Agency on Monday.
MI-24 Hind fire support helicopters fly two to three combat sorties daily to escort freight and passenger trains in order to prevent rebel attacks or sabotage and terrorist acts on the railway, the spokesman said.
At the same time the army aviation continues to support combat operations against rebel groups, transport landing parties and carry out search and rescue operations in Chechnya.
Helicopter crews have more work to do, as the number of transport and combat sorties has reached 100 per day.
Rebels have opened fire at transport helicopters twice this month. That is why the army aviation command took several organizational, technical and tactical measures over the weekend. In particular, more fire support helicopters were added to convoys escorting transportation of military cargo, the spokesman said.