Military exercise involving 50 aircraft begins in western Russia

The drills involve Sukhoi Su-34 bombers, Su-27 and MiG-29SMT fighters, about 300 motor vehicles on the ground and 1,500 troops, TASS reports.

More than 50 warplanes and helicopters of the Western military district have begun to redeploy to tactical airfields under the just-started exercise, the district’s spokesman Igor Muginov told the media.

“Tactical and army aviation crews of the Western military district based at five airdromes in three federal districts have begun to be redeployed to tactical airfields in accordance with the schedule of a tactical flight exercise,” he said.

Sukhoi-34 bombers will fly more than 3,000 kilometers to practise landing at two airdromes of different types and refueling in flight, as well as tactical and practical operations at test sites in the Voronezh and Tver regions. Sukhoi-27 and MiG-29SMT fighter-planes are to intercept more than 50 air targets of a potential enemy and practise dogfight.

“Involved in the exercise are about 300 motor vehicles on the ground, 50 planes and helicopters and 1,500 troops,” Muginov said.