Large air defence exercises start in Southern Russia

Exercises of air defence units have been launched in the Krasnodar Territory and in the Astrakhan Region. More than 2500 servicemen are taking part in them.

Units from several regions of Southern Russia are taking part in the exercises. About 500 pieces of military equipment will arrive in the above regions.

"The average length of the route covered by military machines is about a thousand kilometres; in total, over 10 echelons are expected from the Republics of Dagestan, Chechnya, North Ossetia-Alania, Adygea; and from the Volgograd Region and Stavropol Territory," the RIA "Novosti" quotes the press service of the Southern Military District.

The anti-aircraft gunners will have to destroy air targets flying at the speeds of up to 500 meters per second at an altitude of 3000 meters, and surface targets at the distance of 6000 meters. The exercises will use the anti-aircraft gun-missile complexes "Tunguska" and the anti-aircraft and artillery systems "Shilka".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.