Article Posted on : - Aug 29, 2011

A file photo.

MOSCOW (BNS): Russia is planning to conduct over 40 joint military exercises in this year, according to media reports.

The armed forces will conduct the exercise with many foreign countries.

“Most of the exercises are held jointly with our neighbours, member countries of the CIS and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO),” Itar-Tass quoted General Staff Chief Gen. Nikolai Makarov as saying on Friday.

“Currently, Russia and Kazakhstan are hosting the CIS air defence drill, Combat Commonwealth 2011. It involves servicemen of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan,” he added.

In June 2011, Russia and Kazakhstan have conducted a joint tactical command drill, Shygys. Russia had participated with more than 200 servicemen and 13 aircraft in the exercise.