The crews of the operational and tactical aviation of the Southern Military District have been transferred to field airfields for joint exercises with the naval aviation of the Black Sea Fleet. The air maneuvers involve Su-27SM and Su-30SM fighters, as well as Su-24M and Su-34 front-line bombers.
As the commander of the Southern Military District, Army General Alexander Dvornikov, stressed, the pilots " will have to perform missile launches and bombing at sea targets." The crews of the aircraft must confirm their ability to operate in difficult weather conditions, as well as to fly at the lowest possible altitude above the water.
In addition, the pilots of the two associations will work out air cover and escort of ship strike groups in the Black Sea. The pilots will train actions as part of reconnaissance strike complexes while ensuring security.
It should be noted that the large-scale exercises are held as part of the control check of the Southern Military District troops. They involve the troops of all the associations of the district. Earlier, artillery boats and landing craft of the Caspian Flotilla began the transition from Makhachkala to the Black Sea. More than ten boats of the project 1204 "Bumblebee" and landing craft of the class "Dugong" and "Serna"take part in the campaign.
Nikolay Grishchenko