MINSK, 14 September (BelTA) – Russian air defense units of the Western Military District repelled an air assault of the imaginary enemy in Leningrad Oblast as part of the Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017, the press service of the Western Military District told BelTA.
The radar stations detected over 20 aerial targets flying close to the imaginary air border. The targets had turned off their friend-or-foe transponders and did not respond to hails. Information about the targets was fed by the Fundament-M computer system via the Western Military District air defense command post to the air defense units manning S-400, S-300 air defense missile systems, Pantsir-S air defense gun and missile systems, and on-duty Air Force units, which intercepted and “destroyed” all the aerial targets.
All the aerial targets in the responsibility area of the Western Military District air defenses were detected and intercepted in a timely manner.
The Belarusian-Russian strategic army exercise Zapad 2017 is scheduled for 14-20 September. The chiefs of the general staffs of the Belarusian and Russian armies oversee the exercise. The main purpose of the exercise is to improve operational cohesion of staffs of different levels, connections between and compatibility of advanced troops control systems. New regulations will be practiced. Commanding officers of all ranks will practice commanding troops taking into account the combat experience of modern armed conflicts. The Zapad 2017 exercise is the final stage in the joint army training efforts of Belarus and Russia.
