MINSK DISTRICT, 24 June (BelTA) – The army parade on Belarus' Independence Day on 3 July will feature 49 aircraft and helicopters, BelTA learned from Chief of the Air Force and Air Defense Command of the Armed Forces of Belarus Igor Golub on 24 June.
A training session of the aerial part of the Independence Day parade took place in Minsk District over the Zaslavl water reservoir on 24 June. It was the first rehearsal of the general combat formation.
Igor Golub said: “The main task we faced during the training session was to practice getting together, flying along the designated line in a combat formation, and disbanding in addition to special cases, which may emerge in flight. We also had to check the control system on the land and in the air. The aircraft will fly from four airfields. A difficult task: they will have to take off at different times, use different call signs.” He added he was satisfied with the overall results of the training session.
Training and combat aircraft L-39 and Yak-130, Mi-8MTV5 and Mi-24 helicopters, attack aircraft Su-25, fighter jets MiG-29, and military transport aircraft IL-76 and An-26 will fly over Minsk residents and guests during the parade. Only highly trained pilots will participate in the parade.
Russian strategic bombers Tu-95MS, Tu-160, and Tu-22M3, a wing of combat helicopters Ka-52, tactical bombers Su-34, and fighter jets Su-30SM will participate in Belarus' Independence Day parade this year. The aircraft from Russia are supposed to take part in an evening training session today.
Some of the Russian aircraft and helicopters will have to depart from Russian airfields in order to participate in the parade. Su-30 and Su-34 will have to reach Belarus from Kursk. Some of the long-range Air Force units will have to take off from the airfield in the city of Engels. “Every second counts. The pilots are ready for the challenge. I don't think there will be problems with assembling the combat formation,” said Aleksandr Karev, Deputy Chief of the Air Force and Air Defense Command.
Helicopters bearing flags will fly at an altitude of 150m. Groups of other helicopters will fly at 200m above the ground. Groups of tactical aviation aircraft will fly at 250m above the ground while long-range aircraft will fly as high as 550m.
There are plans to arrange a general rehearsal above Minsk on 1 July if the weather permits it.
The parade to celebrate Independence Day will begin in Minsk at 21:00 on 3 July. The parade will feature thousands of military personnel and over 300 units of combat hardware. Representatives of eight foreign armies have been invited to participate in the parade. The parade will end with a military drill performance by the guard of honor company and a performance of the combined military orchestra of the Armed Forces of Belarus.
