Interfax - Russia's Defense Technologies Newswire Thursday 12:54 PM GMT Russian MiG-29 pilots practice destroying simulated enemy's air defense systems in drills MOSCOW January 25 HIGHLIGHT: Pilots of Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) fighter jets from Russia's Erebuni base in Armenia have practiced eliminating a simulated enemy's air defense systems during an exercise, the Russian Southern Military District's press office said. MOSCOW, January 25. /TASS-DEFENSE/. Pilots of Mikoyan MiG-29 (NATO reporting name: Fulcrum) fighter jets from Russia's Erebuni base in Armenia have practiced eliminating a simulated enemy's air defense systems during an exercise, the Russian Southern Military District's press office said. "Besides, the crews performed elementary and advanced flying in mountains in harsh weather conditions at medium altitudes and in the stratosphere," the press office said. "The flights involved more than 100 pilots, technicians and ground support service specialists and about 20 planes," the press office added. This year, MiG-29 pilots will perform more than 1,000 training and combat training sorties with the use of organic weapons during tactical exercises and tours of duty as part of the CIS single air defense system.