The carriers of the MiG-31K hypersonic weapons and the Tu-22M3 long-range bombers performed flights over the Mediterranean Sea
Moscow. June 29. INTERFAX-Russian ships conducted training to repel an air attack by a simulated enemy in the Mediterranean Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
The Russian exercises are taking place against the background of the presence of a naval strike group led by the British aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth in the Mediterranean Sea.
"The fleet forces conducted a training to repel an air attack. The issues of practical actions of calculations and means of air defense to combat air targets were worked out. Special attention was paid to the fight against unmanned aerial vehicles," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
"In addition, MiG-31K aircraft from the newest Kinzhal missile system and Tu-22M3 long-range bombers made training flights in the Mediterranean Sea," the Russian military department reported.
The Russian military reported that during the exercise, which involved aircraft from the Russian Hmeimim air base in Syria, tactical techniques for conducting reconnaissance of the surface and underwater situation were worked out.
"The maneuvering of the ships was carried out in cooperation with the Il-38 anti-submarine aircraft. Su-35 fighters and Su-34 fighter-bombers provided aviation cover for the actions of the fleet forces. The Ka-27 anti - submarine helicopter based on the Admiral Makarov frigate participated in the search operations, "the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
The military said that after the exercises, all the planes returned safely to the Russian Khmeimim air base.
Last Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the beginning of maneuvers involving ships, submarines and aircraft in the east of the Mediterranean Sea.
"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.
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.
The MiG-31 is a long-range interceptor fighter. On its basis, the Mig-31K was created - the carrier of the Kinzhal hypersonic missile system.
The commander-in-chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, Sergei Surovikin, previously said that maneuvering the missile at speeds several times higher than the speed of sound allows it to reliably overcome all existing and developing air and missile defense systems. According to Surovikin, a high-speed carrier aircraft will be able to deliver a rocket to the drop area in a matter of minutes.
On June 7, it became known that the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth entered the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. It is accompanied by surface warships, as well as a Royal Navy nuclear submarine equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles, and two supply ships.
The British destroyer Defender and the Dutch frigate Evertsen, which are part of the group, were reportedly sent to the Black Sea.
On June 23, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Defender violated the state border of the Russian Federation in the Black Sea near the Crimea. The Russian military and border guards opened warning fire to force the British ship to change course.
