GROZNY. May 17 (Interfax-AVN) - Several aviation and radar units of the 4th air force and air defense army have been charged with protecting the Chechen strap of the Russian-Georgian border, the army's commander Lieutenant General Alexander Zelin told Interfax-Military News Agency.
Zelin indicated that the aircraft and air defense means of the army are mainly controlling air traffic in the area.
"The main aim is to prevent flights of light-weight planes with cargo including those with arms envisaged for rebel groups operating in Chechnya. Crews of combat helicopters, air defense systems are ordered to prevent all attempts and even destroy aerial border violators," Zelin stressed.
The army's aviation group is operating in the breakaway republic and accomplishes other tasks as well. In particular, at requests of the unified federal group in the North Caucasus the aviation group is carrying out aerial reconnaissance of areas of possible concentration of rebel groups, inflicts bombing strikes on detected targets and organizes relocations.
According to Zelin, combat sorties involve all experienced officers of the army regardless of their ranks or military duties.