Photo: Sergei Bobylev/Russian Defence Ministry Press Office/TASS

Around 100 aircraft, radar troops and air defense forces from seven CIS member states are taking part in the Joint Air Defense System drills, Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, TASS reports.

“The exercise began with sentries from Eastern European and Central Asian regions detecting control targets of the token enemy performed by the Russian Tupolev Tu-160 and Tupolev Tu-85MS strategic bombers as well as the Tupolev Tu-22MS long-range bombers,” the statement says.

The drills are taking place in the air space of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Armenia. The exercise involves strategic bombers Sukhoi Su-27, Mikoyan MiG-29, MiG-31, Sukhoi Su-24, Su-34, Su-25 war planes as well as Mi-8 and Kamov Ka-27 helicopters.

During the drills, the Air Defense forces will conduct exercises against aircraft breaching the CIS countries’ borders, actions to be taken in the event of aircraft hijacking, and assistance to planes and helicopters in distress.