Moscow: The aviation division of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has carried out extensive drills, performing combat sorties over the Black Sea to locate and eliminate unmanned aerial and maritime targets, as reported by the Interfax news agency on Monday, citing the Russian defense ministry.
According to the ministry, “The combat mission tasks were conducted in the dark, at different altitudes and included crews climbing into the stratosphere to an altitude of over 13,000 meters (8 miles).”
The exercises involved the navy assault aviation regiment and the Black Sea Fleet’s air defense units, utilizing the Sukhoi Su-30SM twin-engine, two-seat supermaneuverable fighter aircraft.
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Interfax noted that the Su-30SM is specifically designed to achieve air superiority, target enemy airfields at great depth, and engage various targets, including air, land, and sea, even in challenging nighttime and meteorological conditions.
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Amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russia’s armed forces have faced significant challenges on both land and sea for the past two and a half years. Despite being outgunned in naval capabilities, Ukrainian forces have managed to deliver substantial blows to the Black Sea Fleet, which is primarily based in Sevastopol on the Crimean Peninsula.
