Russian WMD air defense units to start the highest level of combat readiness training TASS 32903165

Armies in the world - Russia
 
Russian WMD air defense units to start the highest level of combat readiness training
Air defense units of Russia’s Western Military District have been brought to the highest level of combat readiness during a scheduled joint exercise, district spokesman Colonel Igor Muginov told TASS on Tuesday.
     
     

"According to the scenario of the exercise, a simulated enemy’s warplanes deliver a surprise missile and bomb strike against St. Petersburg and key facilities in the Leningrad Region [in northwest Russia] from three directions," the spokesman said.

"Western Military District attack aircraft deliver several surprise strikes against the airspace in northwest Russia," he added.

During the maneuvers, S-300 (NATO reporting name: SA-10 Grumble) and S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler) air defense missile systems, Pantsyr-S (SA-22 Greyhound) self-propelled anti-air gun/missile systems and modern radars with various operational ranges will detect, track and hit the simulated enemy’s planes in the areas of combat duty, Muginov said.

Sukhoi Su-34 (Fullback) frontline bombers, as well as Su-27 (Flanker-B), Mikoyan MiG-29SMT (Fulcrum) and MiG-31BM (Foxhound) fighter jets will simulate the hostile forces.

The planes will perform flights at minimum distances of no more than several meters between them to complicate their mission.

"During each stage of the exercise, the simulated enemy’s sabotage groups will attack the units involved in the maneuvers, lay mines at aircraft bases and command centers," the spokesman said.

"Air defense unit guard forces of the Western Military District will counteract the sabotage groups," he added.

The exercise involving the aircraft and the Western Military District’s air defense units is scheduled and will last through the end of this week.
     
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