Units start advancing to concentration areas at SCO joint exercise.

14/9 Tass 252

ASTANA, September 14 (Itar-Tass) - Units of a multinational
contingent, participating in the anti-terrorist exercise of the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation, called "Peace mission-2010", are advancing on
Tuesday to appointed areas to accomplish set tasks.
"Units, involved in the joint exercise of SCO countries started
advancing to areas of concentration to perform practical actions at the
combined Matybulak proving ground (Kazakhstan)," Itar-Tass learnt from
assistant to chief of the exercise from the Russian Federation Oleg
Yushkov.
"These areas as well as time indicators on the use of forces and means
for all motorized, tank and artillery units were fixed by the exercise
joint headquarters."
According to the colonel, "motorized and tank outfits of the battalion
tactical group of the 21st Motorized Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces
now familiarise themselves with the area of operation". "Commanders of
outfits and combat vehicles carried out reconnaissance of routes of
movement and attack formations". At the same time, our troops closely
cooperate with units of armed forces of Kazakhstan and the Chinese People'
s Liberation Army."
Russian artillerymen are also active. "They started fitting out their
combat positions for a battalion of 152mm self-propelled artillery units
Msta-S, tallying coordinates and targets for joint fire strikes. Starting
from Wednesday, we shall begin streamlining operation of crews and units
with practical use of firearms," Yushkov added.
Chief of the exercise from the Russian side, Major General Yuri Petrov
said "the first practical training session of Russian outfits over unknown
terrain passed successfully". "We have reached definite mutual
understanding between units of the exercise member countries," he added.
"We have to carry out some more joint training sessions, during which we
shall reach full mutual understanding on all questions of combat
operation."
The exercise from the Russian side involves over 1,000 troops, 130
units of armour, including tanks, self-propelled artillery units and
armoured infantry carriers, engineering machinery and communications
means, more than 100 trucks, over ten planes and gunships.
The exercise, started on September 9 with the participation of Russia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China and Tajikistan, will be mounted in three
stages with a total duration of 17 days. The second stage of the exercise,
connected with preparation for a joint anti-terrorist operation, started
on September 13. The active phase of the exercise will be held on
September 24.
-0-bur/gor