Ex-Soviet states to test integrated air defense this week

Ex-Soviet states to test integrated air defense this week
20/ 10/ 2008
MOSCOW, October 20 (RIA Novosti) - More than 50 combat aircraft will participate in a joint command-and-staff air defense exercise conducted by members of the Commonwealth of Independent States on Thursday, a Russian Air Force spokesman said on Monday.
"The exercise will involve over 50 fighters, bombers and helicopters. A particular feature of the exercise is the deployment of Russia's A-50 Mainstay AWACS aircraft," Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik said.
Combat-duty units of the CIS integrated air defense network, which are stationed in Kazakhstan, Siberia, central Russia, Belarus and Armenia will take part in the exercise.
The CIS, a loose alliance of former Soviet states, comprises Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Ukraine is a founding and participating country but technically not a member state. Turkmenistan holds associate status, while Georgia recently withdrew over the South Ossetia conflict. >>
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Ιδιαίτερα σημαντική η συμμετοχή του Καζακσταν και της Αρμενίας.