Russian carrier group starts drills in MediterraneanJanuary 24, 2014 - 16:26 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A Russian carrier group that entered the Mediterranean earlier this month has begun a series of naval aviation exercise, a navy spokesman said Friday, Jan 24, according to RIA Novosti. “The naval aviators are conducting training in dogfighting, high-speed interception and improving their skills in flying intricate aerobatic maneuvers,” captain of the 1st Class Vadim Serga said. Russia formed a permanent naval task force in the Mediterranean last year to defend its interests in the region. The move was widely seen as a response to calls for international intervention in the worsening civil war in Syria, Russia’s longtime ally. The group of ships, led by Russia’s sole aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov, is currently located in waters near Spain’s Balearic Islands. In August, Russian media quoted a military source saying a group of Russian warships on a long-distance cruise would soon call at the country’s only Mediterranean naval facility in the Syrian port city of Tartus. The Admiral Kuznetsov led another group of ships to that facility two years ago. Serga said that over 20 training flights by the ship’s Su-33 Flanker-D fighter jets were planned. The group, dispatched by Russia’s Northern Fleet, was escorted by a British destroyer as it approached Scotland last month. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |