A Chinese air force unit, consisting of 6 Ilyushin IL-76
transport aircrafts, Tuesday headed for east Russia for a joint
anti-terrorism drill that is sponsored by the Shanghai Cooperation
Organization (SCO).
The transporters took off from an airport in west China's
Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at 8:30 AM and would fly for
about four hours and 2,900 kilometers before arriving at the drill
venue.
The aircrafts were carrying more than 200 combat officers and
soldiers with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), who will
be deployed at Russian airports for the drill.
Another two air force units, using the same transporters, will
take off from Xinjiang to deliver more soldiers and armament in the
upcoming days.
The combat officers and soldiers, one of the first PLA groups to
arrive at the drill venue, will soon start training for the
drill.
The Russian-made Ilyushin IL-76 transporter, a major equipment
of air transportation and airborne troops of PLA, will also be used
as navigating planes for PLA fighters and bombers to arrive at the
venue.
"It will be a milestone in PLA air force history for its long
distance transport of group aircrafts with comprehensive logistics
for the first time," Zheng Yuanlin, commander of the first
transporter unit, told Xinhua before departure.
Qiao Qingchen, commander of the PLA Air Force and member of
China's Central Military Commission, went to the airport Tuesday
morning to see the officers and soldiers off.
The "Peace Mission 2007" drill will be carried out in
Chelyabinsk in Russia and in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang.
The SCO members -- China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia,
Tajikistan and Uzbekistan -- will stage the joint anti-terrorism
drill from August 9 to 17, which will involve 6,000 military
personnel, including 4,700 Russian soldiers and 36 aircrafts.
(Xinhua News Agency July 31, 2007)
