Moscow. June 28. INTERFAX-AVN-The crews of five ships of the Russian Navy, including the missile cruiser "Moscow", the frigates "Admiral Essen" and "Admiral Makarov", repelled the attack of a conditional enemy and conducted training of air defense forces at exercises in the Mediterranean Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters.
"During the joint exercise of the forces of the permanent task force of the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean Sea and the aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which began on June 25 in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, the crews of the ships worked out tasks to repel the attack of enemy air assets and conducted air defense training. The air defense calculations improved practical skills in repelling attacks by means of air attack, " the military department said.
The ministry stressed that " special attention was paid to countering aircraft, helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles of a conditional enemy."
On Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the beginning of maneuvers involving ships, submarines and aircraft in the east of the Mediterranean Sea.
According to the Russian military, five ships are involved in the exercise, in particular, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the missile cruiser Moscow, the frigates with Kalibr cruise missiles Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov, as well as two submarines equipped with "Caliber" Stary Oskol and Rostov-on-Don.
"As part of the exercise, a pair of MiG-31K aircraft with the ability to use the latest hypersonic missiles from the Kinzhal complex were flown from Russian airfields to the Russian Khmeimim airbase in the Syrian Arab Republic, "the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Together with the Tu-142, Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft, Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and MiG - 31K aircraft, the ships and submarines will perform combat training tasks to ensure the security of two Russian bases in Syria-Khmeimim and Tartus.
