The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced the start of an operational exercise by the Pacific Fleet with the involvement of up to 20 surface warships and submarines. This is the largest exercise in the Pacific since the days of the USSR. The department reported that the naval tactical groups of the Pacific Fleet made a transition of about 4 thousand kilometers from their basing points and deployed a grouping of fleet forces in the designated area of the Pacific Ocean to carry out training tasks.
The ships include the missile cruiser Varyag, the large anti-submarine ship Admiral Panteleyev, the frigate Marshal Shaposhnikov, the tracking ship Marshal Krylov (also called a missile range instrumentation ship), Steregushchiy-class corvette Gromkiy, Sovershennyy, and Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov, as well as logistics vessels.
As per the ministry, about 20 aircraft are also involved in the exercise, including Tu-142M3 long-range anti-submarine aircraft, MiG-31BM high-altitude fighter-interceptors, and other aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
The aim of the exercise is to manage a heterogeneous group of forces at a considerable distance from the bases, for the protection and defense of the sea (ocean) communications, as well as organizing the joint operations with ships and aircraft to search and track submarines and ship of the imaginary enemy. The commander of the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Sergei Avakyants, is in charge of the operational exercises.
(Image: © Vadim Savitsky/Russian Defense Ministry’s Press Office)