In accordance with the exercise scenario, the regiment left its airfield to dodge an attack, with the airbase later 'rendered inefficient' by aircraft of the notional enemy. For this reason, a decision was taken to have the attack aircraft land on a pre-arranged stretch of the motorway. A special security detachment was dispatched to the landing site as part of a joint vehicular convoy. There were reports of a command team of the notional enemy, moving towards the improvised motorway airfield. The DO of the attack air regiment was called to dispatch a task force to deal with the enemy commandos. The task force showed up on board four Mi-8 utility helicopters and was committed as soon as it landed.

With the notional enemy commandos wiped out, four Su-25s appeared over the motorway. Following a fly-over, the planes conducted landing approach one by one, with the first three performing a touch-and-go and the fourth one conducting a full-fledged landing. While the fourth Su-25 was taxiing and been serviced, it was being provided close air support by another attack aircraft and a pair of Ka-52 helicopters. The Su-25 departed following its servicing, refuelling and being furnished with two guided missiles.

Using airfield-capable stretches of motorways for tactical aircraft landing and takeoff has been mastered by the Belarus Air Force quite a long time ago. The exercise including the early landings and takeoffs of a pair of Su-25UBs took place there as far back as April 2007. Su-27UBM and MiG-29UB fighters practised motorway landing in August 2007. Now, the Russian Air Force has started practising motorway landing too.

(Photo: Dmitry Pichugin)