"Ladoga-2016" exercise among crews of the Western MD fighter aviation formations located in the Tver and Kursk Regions as well as in Karelia will take place in late March.

The crews of the Air Force and Air Defence formation of the Western MD will effectuate combat firings using missiles on MiG-29SMT, MiG-31BM as well as different modifications of Su-27 fighter aircraft.

About 50 pilots will practice different elements of air combat including enemy detection, locking on the target and its destruction day and night using missiles.

After the combat training activities, a qualification commission will give the young pilots permission to carry out combat duty and to defend the air space of the Russian Federation.