MOSCOW, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Caspian Flotilla concluded a series of command and staff exercises aimed at protecting the country's maritime economic activities and shipping routes, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
The drills, which began on Sept. 14 under the command of Rear Admiral Oleg Zverev, tested the coordination of naval groups in securing economic infrastructure and navigation safety in the Caspian Sea, said a statement published by the Russian Defense Ministry.
During the exercises, flotilla forces simulated a confrontation with notional enemy vessels attempting to strike military and civilian targets on Russian territory. A tactical group engaged the targets in an artillery battle, using A-190 100-mm naval guns to eliminate them.
Naval crews also rehearsed defense against attacks by unmanned boats and aerial drones. Sailors fired heavy machine guns at mock targets while deploying PK-10 shipborne systems to create passive interference.
At night, crews practiced anti-sabotage defense at an unprotected anchorage, conducting preventive grenade launches with RGD-5 hand grenades and DP-61 anti-sabotage grenade launchers.
More than 15 warships and support vessels of the Caspian Flotilla headquartered in Astrakhan took part in the drills. ■
