MOSCOW, October 1 (Sputnik) – Russia’s first joint tactical air exercises with Serbia will kick off on Friday in southern Russia near the Caspian Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday.
"First joint Russian-Serbian tactical air exercise – BARS-2015 – will be conducted at the Ashuluk range with the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Serbian Air Force," the ministry announced on its website.
Crews of the Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name Fulcrum) will practice aerial target interception and elimination, as well as airstrikes on ground-based targets, according to the statement. Pilots of the Mil Mi-8 (Hip) helicopters will fire unguided rockets.
The Serbian Air Force operates up to eight Mi-8T helicopters and three MiG-29s.
The Russian-Serbian BARS-2015 drills at the Ashuluk range of the Astrakhan Region are scheduled to wrap up October 9.
