Kazakhstan launches naval exercises on Caspian sea

A large-scale tactical naval exercises, codename World Sea-2002, have been launched near the Mangyshalyk peninsula at a base of the Kazakh Western Military District.

According to Sapargali Dzhagiparov, the Press Secretary of the Kazakh Defence Ministry, the exercises involve 3,000 servicemen of the republican Armed Forces. They are rapid deployment paratroopers, air defence and combat engineers. For the first time such an event will involve units providing territorial defence of important facilities, while missile and artillery units will carry out first range practice at targets at sea. The 400 pieces of military and special equipment include modern artillery systems, fighters, helicopters and transport aircraft, as well as armoured vehicles.

According to the press secretary, the objective of the exercises is to ensure the security of the republic's Caspian region, which also includes anti-terrorist operations.

One stage of the event includes joint Russo-Kazakh manoeuvres: the Kazakh Air Force will render air support to Russian troops assigned to the Caspian Flotilla beaching in a sector located in the northern part of the sea.