MOSCOW, Feb 15 - RIA Novosti. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, during an inspection of the Khmeimim airbase in Syria, introduced a new tradition there - he presented a special helmet to a pilot who had flown more than 300 sorties, the Russian Defense Ministry told reporters on Tuesday.
"While communicating with the flight-lifting personnel of the Khmeimim Airbase, Sergei Shoigu introduced a new tradition - he handed a special air helmet to a pilot who had flown more than 300 combat sorties," the message says.
On the runway, the Minister spoke with Russian pilots of long-range Tu-22M bombers and MiG-31K interceptor fighters who arrived at the airbase from Russia on February 15 to participate in exercises of the Russian Navy.