Russian troops hold drills in Armenia

Yerevan (

), July 2: Russian troops started military command and control exercises in Armenia on Tuesday, a media report said.

Some 600 Russian servicemen plus 200 units of military equipment are involved in the drills held by troops of Russia's Southern Military District, Xinhua reported.

During the week-long exercises, the troops are expected to carry out special tactical missions using missiles from tanks, infantry vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, artillery and standard weaponry.

Specialised units of the Russian anti-air defense system will also take part in the drills, involving the BUK-M1-2 and S-300B systems, MIG-29 fighter jets and different types of unmanned aircraft.

Such drills are regularly held twice a year.

Armenia is a member country of the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), a security group which also comprises Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

IANS