Viktor Khrenin. Photo courtesy of the Belarusian Defense Ministry's news agency Vayar
MINSK, 22 August (BelTA) – Belarusian pilots practiced firing short-range and medium-range missiles from Su-30SM aircraft, BelTA learned from Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin. The minister observed a military exercise involving Belarusian military personnel in the Russian military training area Ashuluk on 22 August, the Defense Ministry told BelTA.
While talking to reporters, the Belarusian defense minister mentioned the importance of the operational tactical exercise involving live fire for military personnel of the Air Force and Air Defense Command from the point of view of getting modern combat experience.
“Operational launches are of huge significance. Not only for making sure of capabilities of your hardware but also for getting combat experience from our Russian colleagues. A recent incident when drones flew over our territory demonstrated that our crews are ready to carry out combat missions within the framework of the combat training routine organized for air defense missile forces. We saw all those drones on approach and they were destroyed once they were within the effective engagement range,” Viktor Khrenin said.
The defense minister noted that a military exercise is always the final part in the training of any branch of the military. Exercises also offer an opportunity to demonstrate one’s training standards and see and feel capabilities of one’s own hardware. “Today we’ve tested capabilities of the air defense missile system Tor-M2 for the first time. The crews fired live ammunition while on the move. The launches were successful. It was also the first time when pilots flew Su-30SM aircraft and fired short-range and medium-range missiles. Not only experienced pilots but also young ones fired them. All the missiles were fired at very complicated low-speed and small-size targets. They are difficult to handle for air defenses on the ground and for airborne weapons,” he stressed.
Viktor Khrenin stated that the Belarusian crews and pilots had fulfilled their missions. “A military exercise is an exam that tests the smooth operation of the entire air defense system. When air defense missile forces, radar troops, and aviation work in concert, then one can say that the system is viable. In our case it is combat capable. That’s what our military personnel demonstrated today,” the defense minister concluded.
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