Russias Baltic Fleet Crews Carry Out Mid-Flight Refuelling Exercise Involving Over 15 Aircraft

This is the moment crew members from Russia's Baltic Fleet carry out a mid-flight refuelling exercise involving more than 15 aircraft.

The footage of the high-altitude pit stop was released by the Russian Ministry of Defence yesterday, on Wednesday 20th October.

In the footage, the crews of the Su-30SM multipurpose fighters and the Su-24M front-line bombers practice air refuelling with the Il-78 Russian Aerospace Forces.

According to the Ministry: "Air refuelling is a necessary element of training for naval aviation pilots, which allows them to perform tasks as intended at a great distance from their home bases."

In a statement posted on its website, the Russian Ministry of Defence said that "up to 15 aircraft of the Baltic Fleet naval aviation unit were involved."

The Sukhoi Su-30 is a twin-engine, two-seat supermaneuverable aircraft developed by the Soviet Union that is primarily involved in air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.

The Sukhoi Su-24 is a supersonic attack aircraft developed in the Soviet Union it is currently active in the Russian Air Force, Syrian Air Force, Ukrainian Air Force, Azerbaijan Air Force and Iraqi Air Force.

Such elements of flight training of the Baltic Fleet naval aviation crews are carried out regularly. The flight training event will run until the end of this week.

Ministry of Defense of Russia/CZ/Peter Barker