Russia bringing attack aircraft into Belarus The placement of Russian attack aircraft into Belarus, though decided several years ago, gets a new meaning in light of the events in Ukraine. Up close to Lithuania’s side, the Russian planes would reach Šiauliai air base before its NATO fighters manage to take off. Russia will obtain the use of Baranovitš or Lida airfields in Western Belarus, or maybe both. One of the bases will be hosting an air force regiment of 24 fighters. At that, Lida is only 35 kilometres from the Lithuanian border. «One regiment is decided, may-be there’ll be many,» said Kaarel Kaas, an analyst at International Centre for Defence Studies. The air bases will be equipped with Sukhoi SU-27SM3 type fighters. Here, the «SM3» refers to the modernised version. Among other things, these are equipped with air-to-ground rockets used to bomb targets on land and sea. «These are frontier ground forces support planes,» said retired Brigadier General Urmas Roosimägi. Simply put, these aren’t interceptor fighters – these are attack aircraft. Please find out more here: news.postimees.ee/2871637/russia-bringing-attack-aircraft-into-belarus
Posted on: Wed, 30 Jul 2014 09:58:52 +0000
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