Peace Mission 2013

摘要

The joint Sino-Russian exercise held in early August attracted a small but significant aviation element, and provided a rare opportunity to get up close to the PLAAF in action. PEACE MISSION 2013' was billed as a joint anti-terrorism military exercise, based out of Russia's 6980th Air Base at Shagol (Chelyabinsk), and held from July 27 to August 15. Alongside a large contingent from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), Army Aviation elements included four Z-9WZ armed helicopters and a pair of Mi-171 transports from the 9th Army Aviation Brigade, which operated inside the Chebarkul combined training range operated by Russia's Central Military Area Command. In total, the exercise included some 1,500 Russian and Chinese personnel. Maj Gen Sergei Chuvakin, deputy chief of staff of the Central Military Area Command, commented: 'Having held a maritime joint military exercise not so long ago, Russia and China are now holding a joint anti-terrorism exercise. The two exercises have demonstrated the high level of co-operation between China and Russia'. Maj Gen Chuvakin was referring to the recent 'Joint Sea 2013' exercise, staged in the Sea of Japan near Russia's Far East port city of Vladivostok.