Russia and Norway will begin a joint large-scale naval exercise, Pomor-2011, on Wednesday, a spokesman for Russia's Northern Fleet said.
The six-day exercise in the Barents and Norwegian seas will involve Russian Udaloy class destroyer Vice Admiral Kulakov from the Northern Fleet, Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen class frigate Helge Ingstad, as well as coastal guard vessels and naval aircraft.
The drills will include artillery firing at air and surface targets, anti-submarine warfare, an anti-piracy mission, and the freeing of an oil platform or a commercial ship seized by armed extremists.
Russia and Norway held similar naval drills last June to practice interoperability during missions in the Arctic.
MOSCOW, May 11 (RIA Novosti)
