Russia to display almost 280 pieces of military hardware at International Army Games

Almost 280 pieces of Russian military hardware and weapons units will participate in the International Army Games 2015, General Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian army general staff, told foreign military attaches at a briefing on Tuesday.

"Russian-made hardware and weapons will be used in most competitions. At the same time, the competition rules provide for using vehicles and weapons that are in service with national armies. Our Chinese partners have decided using Chinese weapons. All the vehicles have already been delivered to Russia," Gerasimov stressed.

Gerasimov clarified that a total of 279 weapons units, military vehicles and special equipment of the Russian Armed Forces as wells as 158 vehicles of the People’s Liberation Army of China would be mobilized for the International Army Games.

"Fifty-four Russian Air Force planes and helicopters and 17 aircraft and helicopters of our foreign partners will participate in aviation competitions," the general added.
Two small missile carrier ships - The Uglich and The Grad Sviyazhsk-will represent the Russian Navy at naval competitions in the Caspian Sea. Boats and naval ships from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan will be their chief rivals.

The International Army Games will take place on August 1-15. Their programme includes various competitions such as Tank Biathlon and Aviadarts.

Overall, more than 2,000 foreign servicemen will take part in the competition, according to the 2015 Army Games Organizing Committee.

The most representative teams have come from China and Belarus, the chief of the Russian General Staff said earlier.

Specifically, the Chinese servicemen will participate in 12 contests while the Belarusian team will take part in nine events.

The Games will be held at 11 training ranges located on the territory spreading "from Siberia to Kuban [the southern Krasnodar Region]," Gerasimov said.