MOSCOW, September 14 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Naval Aviation's Pacific Fleet has started spot checks in airspace over the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk to check the combat readiness of the Eastern Military District (VVO), the press service of the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Saturday.
"Crews of the long range Tu-142 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft and Il-38 medium-range ASW aircraft from Pacific Fleet air bases started to working out a series of tactical objectives in anti-submarine warfare in the airspace over the waters of the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Okhotsk. Aircraft took off from airfields stationed in Primorye and Kamchatka," according to a statement from the Defense Ministry.
The aircraft tests include search tasks, classification and tracking mock enemy submarines using radar and sonar anti-submarine warfare. Tests will be conducted from September 11-18. Some 100,000 soldiers are involved in the inspections.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed the Defense Ministry to carry out spot checks of readiness of the Eastern Military District. The same day, Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu order the VVO military units to be on full alert at 10:00 Moscow-time (6:00 GMT).
The Eastern Military District combines territories of the former Far East Military District and part of the former Siberian Military District with headquarters in Khabarovsk.
