RUSSIAN AIRBASES IN KYRGYZSTAN, ARMENIA TO TAKE PART IN AIR DEFENSE DRILL

Interfax News Agency, Russia
April 16, 2007 Monday 4:30 PM MSK

An air defense command drill will take place on April 19, Assistant
to the Russian Air Force Commander Alexander Drobyshevsky told
Interfax-AVN on Monday.

"Over 120 planes and helicopters, and S-300, S-125 and S-75 anti-
aircraft missile systems will be involved in the training," he said.

Russian airbases in Kyrgyzstan and Armenia will also take part in the
drill, along with Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine, Drobyshevsky said.

"Air defense forces will train the suppression of supersonic and
stratospheric targets. Russian and Kazakh Mikoyan MiG-31 jets will
make joint maneuvers from the airfields in Karaganda, Tolmachyovo
and Bolshoye Savino," he said.

Belarusian and Russian Sukhoi Su-24 and Su-27 will also conduct
joint maneuvers from the Ross and Siversky airfields and four Russian
early-warning A-50 radar planes will give them support, he said.