Su-33 fighters and Su-30SM multirole interceptors from the 279th Naval Aviation Regiment of the Russian Northern Fleet recently trained in aerial combat maneuvers against various simulated airborne targets, including enemy fighters, drones, and helicopters. The aerial activities also included both simple and complex aerobatic flights at different altitudes.
According to the Northern Fleet’s press service, Su-30SM and Su-33 pilots “…intercepted targets and countered the ‘enemy’s’ air defense systems. A low-flying aerial object resembling a helicopter and a drone were also destroyed.”
For the personnel of the Naval Aviation Regiment, the execution of such maneuvers—alongside the development of air combat and target interception elements—is part of complex air operations training, as it allows for the simulation of specific actions such as drone interception.
It is worth noting that Russian combat aviation, as well as its integrated air defense system, has faced considerable challenges in recent months due to waves of attack drones launched from Ukraine. These Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have not been limited to operations near the border but have also significantly degraded Russian energy infrastructure and attacked various types of military facilities.
Despite its distance from the front lines, the Northern Fleet has not been exempt from Ukrainian drone attacks. In September 2024, an incident involving unmanned aerial vehicles, possibly originating from Ukraine, was recorded on the Kola Peninsula. This highlights the importance of the Su-30SM and Su-33 interceptors from the 279th Carrier-Based Aviation Regiment, as well as other assets of Naval Aviation such as the MiG-29K and the Northern Fleet’s air defense systems.
Regarding the recent aerial exercises, the Russian Navy’s Northern Fleet specified that, in addition to the Su-30SM and Su-33, around 50 personnel participated, including flight and engineering staff, as well as ground support services.
Cover image: Russian Ministry of Defense
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