MOSCOW, July 29 (RIA Novosti) - About 30 helicopters and some 300 pilots and ground specialists will carry out operational firing of free-flight rockets as part of the three-day tactical flight training that kicks off in Russia’s Rostov Region and Stavropol Territory, the Southern Military District’s press service reported Tuesday.
“Crews will have to destroy airborne force of an aggressor, as well as to fire in support of infantry and tank units,” the press service said in a statement.
Such large-scale tactical flight trainings are held twice a year and involve two airborne military units.
Prior to the flights and live firing, the pilots undergo additional 10-hour long training sessions with 3D flight simulators.
The pilots will be flying Mi-8AMTSh (NATO reporting name "Hip"), Mi-24 (NATO reporting name "Hind"), Ka-52 (NATO reporting name "Hokum-B"), Mi-28N (NATO reporting name "Havoc") and Mi-35 (NATO reporting name "Hind E") helicopters.