Four air defense battalions practiced firing at air targets at the Chebarkul testing range. Anti-aircraft units in the Southern Urals are ready for action
Four air defense battalions practiced firing at air targets at the Chebarkul testing range. Anti-aircraft units in the Southern Urals are ready for action
Air defense forces are being promptly deployed on the snow-white Chebarkul test ground to repulse a mock air raid
About 600 troops and more than 150 combat units have taken part in the exercise
Servicemen from the Volga-Ural Military District at the Chebarkul test ground
Tunguska air defense gun/missile systems are the first to open fire
Helicopter mockups on the forest’s edge are the targets
First man-portable Igla systems and then Strela systems begin shooting at a mock enemy. Each round fired from them costs over $27,000
These air defense units had to engage flying targets. Known as Falanga systems, they simulate a hostile fighter engine emitting heat sought by missiles
The current drills differ from all previous ones: they used to be conducted by a division, while now it has been converted to a standby brigade
The difference between a brigade and a division is vast. A brigade is more mobile and can begin discharging its combat mission faster. It responds more quickly to what happens on the ground, says Nikolai Shmailov, the exercise controller
A serviceman from the Volga-Ural Military District at the Chebarkul test ground, where tactical drills with live firing were held
A serviceman from the Volga-Ural Military District at the Chebarkul test ground, where tactical drills with live firing were held
