Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
August 24, 2007 Friday
UNITING POWER OF ASHULUK;
The main stage of exercises of the member states of the united air
defense system of the CIS Combat Community-2007 is conducted at the
largest training range in the CIS
A series of international military exercises continues in the
territory of Russia. As soon as military exercises of member states
of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Peace Mission-2007
ended in the Urals area, the exercises of united air defense system
of the CIS member states Combat Community-2007 entered the decisive
phase at Ashuluk training range. Before the exercises, a meeting of
the coordinating council for air defense issues of the council of
defense ministers of the CIS countries was held at Privolzhsky
airfield in the Astrakhan Region with the participation of commanders
of air force and air defense forces of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan,
Russia and Tajikistan. Between August 14 and 18, flight and combat
skills were demonstrated by more than 30 Russian bombers Tu-22M3 and
Tu-95MS. With the support of aerial tankers IL-78 the bombers worked
out issues of interaction, command and orientation in polar latitudes
and performed launches of cruise missiles and aerial refueling.
Meanwhile, the activeness of Russian aviation is registered not only
in the trans-polar region. On August 22, the actions of pilots and
crews of air defense systems were watched by defense ministers of
Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Tajikistan and
Uzbekistan at exercises Combat Community-2007. Interestingly, almost
all these countries were participants or observers of the SCO
exercises in Chebarkul. In Ashuluk, combat skills were demonstrated
by air defense units of Russia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan. Armenia,
Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan were present there as
observers. Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky, aide to the Air Force
Commander for information support, told WPS that "about 3,000
servicemen and more than 30 airplanes and helicopters are attracted
to participation in the second stage of the exercises." Along with
this, airplanes Su-24, Su-35, Su-27, MiG-29 and helicopters Mi-8 and
Mi-24 of the air force of Russia and Belarus will perform more than
100 flights and crews of air defense missile systems S-300, S-125 and
Buk will fire at dynamic and ballistic missiles.
Meanwhile, not all CIS countries participate in work of the united
air defense system now. Georgia and Turkmenistan have abstained from
participation in any programs of the united system since 1997.
However, even in the framework of the Collective Security Treaty
Organization (ODKB), the united air defense system of the CIS
represents an impressive force. The united air defense system of the
CIS established more than 12 years ago unites 19 fighter aviation
regiments, 29 air defense missile regiments, 22 radio technical
units, two electronic countermeasures units, as well as four air
defense brigades. The air defense missile units are armed with Osa,
Buk, S-75, S-125, S-200 and S-300 systems of several modifications.
Fighter aviation uses MiG-23, MiG-29, MiG-31 and Su-27 airplanes.
Joint exercises Combat Community have been conducted since 1995.
Since that time, 70 air defense missile battalions of various
modifications, 60 crews of fighter, attack and bomber aviation and 14
units of radio technical forces were attracted for firing practice.
Member states of the united air defense system of the CIS are going
to get integrated further. More efficient uniting of the air defense
forces of the CIS countries will be done on the basis of the
Russian-Belarusian system, implying the establishment of a united
regional command and mutual use of the detection means and system for
airspace control of the member states. Besides the West European zone
to be covered by the air defense forces of Russia and Belarus, it is
also planned to create the Caucasian and the Central Asian air
defense zones of the CIS countries.
Military experts say that the preservation and maintenance of the
infrastructure necessary for the fulfillment of the tasks, provision
of military assistance to the armed forces of Armenia, Belarus,
Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in buildup
of the national air defense forces, organization of joint combat duty
with them and the conduction of joint command staff exercises with
real indication of air situation.
Thus, the united air defense system of the CIS exists in reality and
defends the member states from threats from the air and outer space.
So far, the united air defense system of the CIS is the most
efficient component of ODKB that is practically implemented in the
protection of airspace of the ODKB member states.
Source: WPS observer
Translated by Pavel Pushkin