ASTRAKHAN, 30 August (RIA Novosti, Andrei Malosolov). Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov will visit Russia's southern Astrakhan region Tuesday to attend military exercises conducted by former Soviet states that are now party to agreements on establishing a joint air defense system. The Russian Defense Ministry said that Ivanov would attend the Ashuluk testing range for the Military Commonwealth 2005 exercise, which will include Air Force and air defense units from four member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States: Armenia, Belarus, Russia and Tajikistan.
The exercises will focus on training units in near combat conditions, and ensuring that air defense units are capable of regrouping. One objective is to establish a joint CIS air defense unit in conflict regions.
Both Armenia and Belarus are each providing an air defense brigade and two air defense missile divisions, whereas Tajikistan is providing an air defense regiment.
Russia will field an air defense regiment, four MiG 29 (Fulcrum) air superiority fighters from four training centers, four Su-24 Fencer striker warplanes, and an Air Force regiment of Su-25 Frogfoot close support planes. In addition, two Su-24 (Fencer) reconnaissance aircraft and a radar brigade will represent the country.
The exercises will finish on Tuesday evening.
