The main phase of the Center-2015 strategic CPX has begun yesterday. It is the basic combat training stage for the Central Military District in the 2015 training year. The forces with the military district have been tasked with localizing an international armed conflict in the Central Asian theater of operations.
Launched on September 14, The Exercise Center 2015 will continue till September 20.
Overall, about 95,000 troops, over 7,000 weapons systems and other hardware, up to 170 planes and 20 ships will participate in the exercise. Of them, about 12,000 personnel, around 470 armored combat vehicles, approximately 90 tanks, roughly 250 infantry fighting vehicles and some 130 armored personnel carriers and 20 artillery pieces and multiple-rocket launch systems are used in the exercise at the Totsky and Donguz training areas in the European part of the Russian Federation.
Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov, dual-hatted as first deputy defense minister, is directing the maneuvers.
The drills involve the command element and forces of the Central Military District, Caspian Flotilla and Airborne Force, long-range bomber and transport aircraft, command elements and personnel of the Russian Ministry of the Interior, Emergencies Ministry, Federal Security Service, Federal Guards Service and Federal Drug Control Service, and the Kazakh command element and troops with the CSTO quick reaction force.
Joint operations will be carried out in Armenia, Belarús, Kazajstán, Kirguistán, Russia and Tayikistán, who are memebers of CSTO.
Vladimir Zarudnitsky, commander of the Central Military District, told journalists about the presence of a Nicaraguan delegation as observers in the drills.
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PL-45/MNA