MOSCOW. April 30 (Interfax-AVN) - The intensity of combat training in the Russian missile troops and artillery has grown up over two times this year in comparison with 2001.
"This year, the intensity of combat training in the missile troops and artillery has grown up over two times in comparison with 2001, while the growth in Land Forces air defense has amounted to more than three times, which was achieved thanks to a dramatic increase in the funding of combat training aspects," chief of the missile troops and artillery Lieutenant General Vladimir Zaritsky told Interfax-Military News Agency on Wednesday.
"Over 10 regiment- and brigade-level tactical exercises with live firing and some 100 battalion- and battery-level exercises took place in the missile troops and artillery in the winter training period," Zaritsky said.
He noted that the main attention during the practice of air defense missions was paid to units of Land Forces air defense within motorized rifle and tank formations, where some 30 tactical exercise with live firing were held.
"It is essential that in 2002-2003 we had a chance to gather all air defense divisions of permanent-readiness motorized rifle and tank units for an exercise with live firing at the Yeisk proving range at least once a year, which did not happen even in the 1980s when there was no problem with funds for combat training," Zaritsky stressed.
" A grounded conclusion can be made from results of inspections that the system of combat training in units of the missile troops and artillery has been restored and continues to develop," Zaritsky said.