The Integrated Air Defence System of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) begins command staff exercises on Tuesday, with primary attention to be devoted to control of the aircraft alert forces, Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky, Assistant to the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force, has told Itar-Tass.  

Drobyshevsky said, "The exercises are conducted in keeping with the plan for joint activities of the Integrated Air Defence System of CIS countries. The purpose of the exercises is connected with the control of the aircraft alert forces of the System in the accomplishment of combat alert missions by them".  

"Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine will participate in the exercises, which will involve more than 120 aircraft and helicopters, as well as S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, and S-125 and S-75 air defence systems," Drobyshevsky pointed out.