Russia participates in mass CIS drills in central Asia

MOSCOW, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) — A large-scale joint military exercise kicked off Friday with participation of Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in a bid to promote capabilities to counter and intercept “enemy” missiles, the Russian Air Forces said.

According to spokesman Vladimir Deryabin, the tactic air drills, code-named “Clear Sky 2012,” would take place in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and last through Oct. 16.

Deryabin revealed that Russian pilots and warplanes would counter and intercept the “enemy’s” missile strikes during air-to-air and ground-to-air operations in the airspace of that three central Asian countries.

Some 20 Russian MiG-31 fighters, an A-5OU plane with an airborne early warning and control system, as well as military cargo planes Il-76 would also be involved in the exercise along with unspecified number of helicopters, the spokesman said.

The exercise were part of military cooperation among member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).