Belarus air defense crews practice live shooting in Chita region

Crews of Belarussian air defense units practice live shooting at the Telemba firing range in Russia's Chita region, an aide to the Russian Air Force commander, Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky, told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

"The first stage of ' the Combat Alliance - 2007 ' drill involving member-states of the CIS unified air defense system began at the Telemba range today," Drobyshevsky said.

Belarussian air defense units will perform a fire practice with S-200 systems at six high-altitude targets.

Baltic Fleet air defense units have successfully hit two targets at an altitude of 8,000 meters within the framework of the drill, the military official said.

The second stage of the exercise will be held in the second half of August at the Ashuluk range in the south of Russia's Astrakhan region.

The exercises will involve aviation and air defense of Russia, Armenia, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, Drobyshevsky said.

The third and fourth stages are scheduled for late August and early September at training ranges in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan with the participation of air force and air defense units of the six CIS countries.

Drobyshevsky also said missile systems S-75. S-125. S-200. S-300 would be used in fire practices. Sukhoi and MiG fighters will drill strikes on aerial and ground targets.