Russia-Norway military exercisers begin in Barents Sea

A large anti-submarine ship The Vice-Admiral Kulakov on Saturday came out of the main base of the Northern Fleet - Severomorsk - to participate in the joint Norwegian-Russian naval exercises called Pomor 2013. Following the Russian ship, from Severomorsk went the frigate of the Norwegian naval forces The Helge Instad", which had been there for a few days on a business trip. Thus, Pomor 2013 began in the Barents Sea, spokesman of the Northern Fleet Captain First Rank Vadim Serga told Itar-Tass.The five-day training will take place in the Barents and Norwegian Seas. Its main objective is to develop joint actions of Russian and Norwegian military in the Arctic region. "The international exercises will consist of a series of antiterrorist episodes, including joint anti-piracy and inspection operations involving the Marines, "release" of a commercial vessel from armed extremists, the security of civilian shipping, interception of violating speedboats at state borders and search-and-rescue operations," Serga said. The exercises’ plan also includes practical artillery firing at air and surface targets, tasks to counter air threats, as well as detection and attack of a submarine. During the manoeuvres, shipboard helicopters will land on the deck of the Russian and Norwegian ships. "The Pomor 2013 exercises will demonstrates the capacity of the Russian and Norwegian armed forces to carry out joint operations against terrorist threats and for protection of national interests in the western part of the Arctic region," the spokesman said. After performing the combat training tasks, The Vice-Admiral Kulakov on the eve of Norway’s Constitution Day will make a business return visit to the Norwegian port of Bergen. The regular military exercises have continued since 2010. That year, the Russian side was represented by a large anti-submarine ship The North, the Norwegian - by frigate The Otto Sverdrup. The Vice-Admiral Kulakov and frigate The Helge Ingstad participated in the Pomor military exercises back in 2011. In 2012, Russia and Norway at the joint exercises were represented by The Admiral Chabanenko and frigate The Fridtjof Nansen.