Events

MINSK, 18 September (BelTA) – During the second stage of the Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017 air force and air defense units practice repulsing aerial assaults of the enemy, BelTA learned from Vladimir Makarov, Head of the Information Office, Press Secretary of the Central Office for Ideology of the Belarusian Defense Ministry, on 18 September.

During the second stage of the exercise the air force and air defense units practice repulsing strikes delivered by aerial assault means of the enemy in addition to organizing interaction and all kinds of support in order to complete their missions. These actions will be practiced in the Domanovo exercise area.

A mixed unit of the 115^th Air Defense Missile Regiment consisting of one battalion of S-300 air defense missile systems and an attached battery of Osa missile systems will work together with battlefield air defense units in the Domanovo exercise area on 19 September to repulse aerial strikes and retreat to a backup position.

In the course of the episode of the exercise the air defense units will have to destroy targets posing as guided missiles and attack helicopters. After repulsing the attack the unit will redeploy to another position.

In the Borisovsky and Osipovichsky exercise areas units of the regional military force will practice destroying an attacking enemy force and staging a counterattack to restore the previous position. Combined arms units will be supported by artillery fire and aerial strikes. Air defense units will protect command posts, fire emplacements, and defense areas.

In the Lepelsky exercise areas troops will practice blocking and eliminating an illegal armed group using live fire.

The other units will have to accomplish their pre-assigned missions — combat duty in an engagement envelope for missile troops, aerial reconnaissance in the responsibility area for troops operating unmanned aerial units.