In course of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) Collective Rapid Reaction Forces (CRRF) exercise held in Tajikistan, the Russian ASF’s Tu-22M3 long-range bombers delivered bomb strikes at the simulated terrorist groups at the Kharbmaydon mountainous range near the Tajik-Afghan border with 250-kilogram high-explosive fragmentation bombs.

Tu-22M3 took off from the Tolmachyovo airbase, Novosibirsk. In the sky over Tajikistan, they were accompanied by the flight of MiG-31 interceptors, which had previously been transferred to the Russian Kant airbase in Kyrgyzstan from the Krasnoyarsk Krai.

Also, during the flight mission, the MiG-31 crews practised air clearance activities.

More than 5,000 servicemen of the CSTO countries, including Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, are participating in the large-scale exercise. The tactical episodes are taking place at five ranges in some mountainous and desert terrains of Tajikistan. Over 1,500 pieces of military hardware are involved. For the first time, more than 60 aircraft are involved.