As part of the efforts to improve the joint regional air defense system of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation and for the sake of improving interaction and skills of command and control bodies and pilots a joint tactical exercise is taking place on 27-31 May for Air Force and Air Defense forces and assets of the Armed Forces of Belarus and the Aerospace Forces of Russia, the Belarusian Defense Ministry told BelTA. Taking part in the exercise are Air Force units, air defense missile units, and radio warfare units of Belarus’ Armed Forces as well as crews of reconnaissance and fighter aircraft and army aviation of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation. Participants of the exercise are expected to practice the management of aviation units from different branches of the military as they carry out combat training missions. Most of the efforts will be focused on practicing the protection of state and military installations from airborne weapons. Apart from that, the crews will have to practice a number of missions in military exercise areas for the sake of providing cover to forces on the ground.