MOSCOW. April 15 (Interfax-AVN) - Planes of the Air Force frontline aviation are ready to drop bombs on ice jams on Russian rivers, Air Force Chief-of-Staff Colonel General Boris Cheltsov told Interfax-Military News Agency on Tuesday.
"Crews of SU-24 Fencer bombers and SU-25 Frogfoot attack planes are prepared to inflict bomb strikes on ice jams. Now the Air Force aviation is engaged in glacial reconnaissance and has not started bombing ice jams," Cheltsov said.
He noted that the bombing will happen in order to prevent floods and possible destruction of hydro-technical installations. "Aviation actions are coordinated and planned together with the Emergencies Ministry and Russian Hydro-Meteorological Center," Cheltsov stressed.
He said that crews of competent pilots have been set up in each Russian region. The operation to destroy ice jams will also involve MI-8 Hip helicopters of the army aviation. "They will conduct round-the-clock aerial reconnaissance of ice jams and deliver demolition men for destroying ice jams by engineering ammunition," Cheltsov added.