MOSCOW, June 11 (RIA Novosti) – The Russian Air Force has redeployed some 20 combat aircraft and helicopters from their home bases to forward airfields in western Russia as part of a new round of snap combat readiness check of the Russian military, the Defense Ministry said.
The drills involve Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer fighter-bombers, Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighter jets, Mi-8 combat transport helicopters and Mi-24 Hind attack helicopters based in the Western Military District.
“On June 11, the aircraft will carry out combat training missions in designated regions previously unknown to pilots,” the ministry said in statement on Monday.
According to the plan of the exercises, the Su-24 planes will carry out bombing and missile-launching missions under Su-27 screening, while Mi-8 helicopters will launch a tactical assault under Mi-24 screening.
The surprise alert exercise, ordered by Russia's General Staff chief Col. Gen. Valery Gerasimov, is part of a series of random checks of the Russian armed forces that began in February.
The most recent drills in May involved units of the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces, strategic and long-range transport aircraft.
The Defense Ministry has said random inspections will now be conducted on a regular basis to insure constant combat readiness of the armed forces.
