Russian-Indian Aviaindra air force manoeuvres to begin August 29

MOSCOW, August 25 (Itar-Tass) - The Aviaindra joint Russian-Indian manoeuvres will be launched on Friday, August 29, spokesman for the Russian Air Force Igor Klimov told reporters on Monday. The active phase of the exercise will be held at the Pogonovo range in the Voronezh region and Ashuluk range in the Astrakhan region. According to the official, Indian military have already arrived in Russia. “In the period from 25 to 29 August, Indian pilots in the Lipetsk aviation centre will study the areas of the forthcoming flights and drill piloting on modern simulators, and air defence specialists will get familiarised with the air defence missile systems at the Gatchina training centre of the antiaircraft missile troops,” Klimov said. The exercise scenario envisages the Russian-Indian crews’ joint flights with firing on ground targets. The flights will be performed on the Sukhoi Su-30SM fighters and Mil Mi-35 and Mi-8 helicopters, with the fighters’ aerial refuelling. “In addition, joint air defence crews at the Ashuluk range will repel a simulated enemy’s air attack with launches of missiles from the S-400, S-300, Buk-M1 air defence missile weapon systems and the Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun system. Klimov said the manoeuvres will last until September 5. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force Colonel General Viktor Bondarev is in command of the exercise. Learn more on itar-tass.com