KALININGRAD. Aug 14 (Interfax-Northwest) - Russian Baltic Fleet vessels involved in sea training exercises are under the constant scrutiny of NATO reconnaissance ships.
Three NATO reconnaissance ships are maneuvering in the immediate vicinity of the areas where the Baltic Fleet's training exercises are taking place, a source in the fleet's staff told Interfax on Wednesday.
Ground and naval means of the air defense register up to 10 flights of scout planes each day.
A reconnaissance system of this kind has been employed in the Baltic Sea for a long time by naval forces of Germany, Poland, Denmark and neutral Sweden, the source said. It does not influence the combat training process at the Baltic Fleet but somehow becomes "a mobilizing factor for crews and staffs," he noted.
The naval stage of the training is supervised by the fleet's chief-of-staff Vice Admiral Alexander Brazhnik, whose flag is waving over the Neustrashimy guard ship, the source said. Elements of separate training of vessels are being practiced at naval proving ranges. The departure of warships and auxiliary vessels from the fleet's main base Baltiysk was supported by a guard unit that accomplished clearance of the fairway from mines planted by the maneuver enemy.
Earlier, Interfax reported that two submarines, 35 battleships and 30 support vessels were taking part in the exercises.