Russian Naval Destroyer holds anti-terrorism drill in Gulf of Aden

Russian Vice-Admiral Kulakov conducted anti-terrorism exercises in the Gulf of Aden with the Russian anti-submarine Destroyer, the spokesman for the Russian Defence Ministry’s Northern Fleet said yesterday.

Captain Vadim Serga said that: “the personnel of the counter-terrorism group have exercised activities to release the captured vessel. Particular attention was given to the rapid and safe movement of the group of marine soldiers on the upper deck, superstructure of the ship and the use of small arms in the inner rooms.”

He added that pilots of the Destroyer’s air crew held drills to practice the take-off and landing of Kamov Ka-27 helicopters on the deck during the ship’s various modes of motion, as well as exercised aerial reconnaissance in the area.

Meanwhile, Moscow announced that it is considering the possibility of sending 10-12 more fighter aircrafts to the Khmeimim Air Base in Syria to ensure cover for each of its 24 bombers after a Russian Su-24M jet crashed in Syria with the aircraft’s captain later being shot down from the ground.

Russia’s Kommersant newspaper cited a military source as saying that after the incident each of the Russian 24 bombers will be accompanied by a fighter jet for protection.