Interaction - 2012 CSTO drills to kick off in Armenia Sept 15

 September 15, 2012 - 17:27 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Interaction – 2012 military exercises will kick off in Armenia on September 15th . Taking part will be the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF) of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), The Voice of Russia said.

The commando units of Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan have acquired great experience in conducting joint operations. 2,000 soldiers are expected to get involved in the military exercises this year. This is approximately half of a modern army brigade, Editor-in-Chief of the “Independent Military Review” magazine Viktor Litovkin says.

"Infantry fighting vehicles, armoured vehicles, tanks, warplanes, the MiG-29 jet fighters, and air defence missile systems will take part in the maneuvers in Armenia."

The participants will face the task of conducting swift and effective operations of a defensive character with small forces. For Armenia this scenario is urgent enough, a military observer, Viktor Baranets, says.

Representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross will take part in the Interaction -2012 military exercises for the first time this year. They will see to it that the maneuvers are conducted in compliance with the Geneva and Vienna Conventions. Military experts say that the presence of international observers will offer proof of full transparency of the Interaction-2012 military exercises in Armenia.