US, Russia to hold joint air-terrorism drill

August 3, 2010
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The US and Russian air forces plan to conduct their first joint exercise next week to fight air-terrorism.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command said on Monday that the joint drill is scheduled for 4 days from next Sunday on the premise that a commercial air carrier flying between the Russian Far East and Alaska was hi-jacked by terrorists.

Under the drill's scenario, the 2 countries' jet fighters will scramble to follow the commercial carrier. Fighters from one country will hand over the monitoring mission to those of the other, with civil aviation authorities from both countries taking part.

Airborne warning, interceptor and refueling tanker planes of the 2 nations will also join in.

The drill is part of the agreement US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev signed in June expanding areas of cooperation.

2010/08/03 14:46(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)