IL-38 planes have carried out strikes on ground targets during Pacific Fleet maneuvers
Anti-submarine aircraft from Russia’s Pacific Fleet have successfully carried out bombing exercises against ground targets during a command-staff drill in the country’s Far East, the Navy press service has said.
The drills involved the detection of a simulated enemy landing force in the coastal zone of the Pacific Ocean, according to the statement. Naval aviation aircraft were dispatched to search for and counter the landing. After reconnaissance of the area, Il-38s performed bombing runs on the simulated enemy forces.
Following the bombing exercise, aircraft crews practiced flying over featureless terrain without ground-based radio navigation aids. The press service noted that this phase was intended to test pilot skills in areas lacking orientation landmarks.
The aerial drills were part of a larger command-staff exercise by the Pacific Fleet with the joint command of forces in the northeast of Russia. The maneuvers were conducted under the leadership of Admiral Viktor Liina, commander of the Pacific Fleet, and held in accordance with the Navy’s training schedule.
The Pacific Fleet announced the start of the exercises last Friday, noting that it was focused on protecting and defending sea communications in the North Pacific, as well as the coasts of Kamchatka and Chukotka and the island zone.
According to the press service, more than ten ships and boats, several nuclear submarines, aircraft and helicopters, as well as the Bastion coastal missile systems, were deployed in the drills.