A ninety-two member advance unit of Russia's air force and two IL-seventy six air-lifters have arrived in Qiqihar, northeast China's Heilongjiang province. They are preparing for the Peace Mission-2009 military exercise with China's People's Liberation Army.
The Russian advance unit includes personnel responsible for commanding aviation, communications, mechanics and logistics support. Russia has deployed more than twenty fighters for the drill, including the IL-seventy six transport aircraft the SU-twenty five attack plane the SU-twenty four frontline bomber the SU-twenty seven fighter and the Mig-eight helicopter.
Russia will also send an airborne assault unit. About 1,300 personnel from both armies and air forces will participate in the five-day anti-terrorism military drill. The biennial Peace Mission military drill was initiated in 2005. This year's exercise is scheduled to begin on July the twenty second.
(CCTV July 14, 2009)
