CIS air defense exercise launched

MOSCOW, 14 August (BelTA) – The united air defense system of the CIS states launched the joint exercise Combat Commonwealth 2013 on 14 August. The information was released by Alexei Zolotukhin, a spokesman of the Aerospace Defense Forces of Russia, BelTA has learned.

The exercise will include three stages and will last till 12 September. It will involve over 500 personnel, over 100 combat vehicles and special ones.

The first stage of the exercise envisages bringing the troops to the highest readiness levels in their permanent stations. With this in mind about 20 military units of the armies of the CIS states were brought to the highest readiness levels on 14 August.

The first stage will be completed when the personnel and materiel are relocated to the firing range Ashuluk, Astrakhan Oblast, Russia where the active stage of the Combat Commonwealth 2013 will take place. The troops and materiel will be delivered to the firing range using railroads and air transport.

The exercise has gathered air defense units of the armies of Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan. Other members of the CIS air defense system are taking part in the exercise as observers.