MOSCOW, October 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and Belarus will hold large-scale joint military training exercises in the first half of 2006, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said Wednesday.
The exercises will involve ground, air, and air defense forces, with all types of military aircraft employed, ranging from fighters to radar planes to freighters.
The decision to hold the exercises was made by Russian and Belarusian defense ministry officials at their meeting in Moscow Wednesday. Their aim will be to improve the Russia-Belarus Union's defense capabilities.
