Russian Armed Forces

Top Norwegian officials on Sept.21 underscored their commitment to buying up to 52 Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets in coming years, saying the stealthy jet's capabilities provided an important counterweight to Russia's military buildup and increased military flights in the region. 

Maja Kocijancic, the European Commission spokesperson, said that "in the current circumstances" a Serbian-Russian joint military exercise would "send a wrong signal", the Belgrade-based Beta news agency reported on Tuesday.

"We expect Serbia to act in accordance with its obligations under EU accession process," Kocijancic added.

Two pilots were killed when a strategic bomber with seven people on board crashed in far eastern Russia on July 14, the defence ministry said, the latest in a string of military aircraft accidents.

Russian military aircraft were scrambled to head off a US warship that was acting "aggressively" in the Black Sea, state news agency RIA reported on May 30, but the Pentagon denied any unusual behavior. 

MOSCOW - Serbia's Defence Minister Bratislav Gasic has met with his Russian colleague Sergey Shoygu during a visit to Moscow to discuss a purchase of two Russian military helicopters and cooperation between the two armies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Northern Fleet, units of the airborne forces and the Western Military District on full combat alert from 08:00 Moscow time on Monday.

This was announced by Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoygu, who explained that these developments are part of snap checks, TASS news agency reports.

38,000 Russian soldiers take part in surprise drills

MOSCOW -- More than 38,000 Russian soldiers from the Northern Fleet and some airborne units on Monday started drills using 55 warships and submarines.

110 jets and helicopters are also taking part, it has been announced in Moscow.

Russia launches large-scale drills in south

MOSCOW -- Military exercises have been launched in Russia's southern regions and in Georgia's breakaway republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The drills are also carried out in Crimea, that was in 2014 reintegrated with Russia, Tanjug reported.

BELGRADE - Two multinational exercises with the Russian Armed Forces are planned for 2015 to improve the Serbian Armed Forces (VS) capabilities, spokesperson for the Serbian Defence Ministry and Figate Captain Jovan Krivokapic has told Tanjug.

"Land forces, Air Force and anti-air defence units will take part in the exercises, which will be held in Russia," Krivokapic explained.

Russian military stages drills in Crimea

MOSCOW -- The Russian army has started a military exercise in Crimea, with more than 600 soldiers participating, the Russian news agency RIA Novosti said on Tuesday.