EX-SOVIET STATES TO TEST INTEGRATED AIR DEFENSE THIS WEEK
RIA Novosti
18:37 | 20/ 10/ 2008
MOSCOW, October 20 (RIA Novosti) - More than 50 combat aircraft
will participate in a joint command-and-staff air defense exercise
conducted by members of the Commonwealth of Independent States on
Thursday, a Russian Air Force spokesman said on Monday.
"The exercise will involve over 50 fighters, bombers and helicopters. A
particular feature of the exercise is the deployment of Russia's A-50
Mainstay AWACS aircraft," Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik said.
Combat-duty units of the CIS integrated air defense network, which
are stationed in Kazakhstan, Siberia, central Russia, Belarus and
Armenia will take part in the exercise.
The CIS, a loose alliance of former Soviet states, comprises Russia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Ukraine is a founding and participating
country but technically not a member state. Turkmenistan holds
associate status, while Georgia recently withdrew over the South
Ossetia conflict.
The integrated air defense network was set up by 10 CIS member
countries on February 10, 1995.
RIA Novosti
18:37 | 20/ 10/ 2008
MOSCOW, October 20 (RIA Novosti) - More than 50 combat aircraft
will participate in a joint command-and-staff air defense exercise
conducted by members of the Commonwealth of Independent States on
Thursday, a Russian Air Force spokesman said on Monday.
"The exercise will involve over 50 fighters, bombers and helicopters. A
particular feature of the exercise is the deployment of Russia's A-50
Mainstay AWACS aircraft," Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik said.
Combat-duty units of the CIS integrated air defense network, which
are stationed in Kazakhstan, Siberia, central Russia, Belarus and
Armenia will take part in the exercise.
The CIS, a loose alliance of former Soviet states, comprises Russia,
Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Ukraine is a founding and participating
country but technically not a member state. Turkmenistan holds
associate status, while Georgia recently withdrew over the South
Ossetia conflict.
The integrated air defense network was set up by 10 CIS member
countries on February 10, 1995.