2010-08-04 09:02

MOSCOW - Russia and the United States will conduct joint military exercises from August 6 to 14, Interfax news agency reported Tuesday.

The drills, code-named "Vigilant Eagle," will involve air force servicemen from both countries who will conduct a simulated operation to free an airplane hijacked by terrorists, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Vladimir Drik said.

"The exercises will involve two stages. Russian and American fighter jets and long-range radar detection airplanes will take part," the news agency quoted Drik as saying.

The headquarters of the exercises will be based in Russia's Khabarovsk and Colorado Springs in the United States. Back-up headquarters will be set in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia, and Anchorage in Alaska, he said.

The exercises are a part of the Russian-US action plan to improve military cooperation and compatibility of the two countries' armed forces, the spokesman said.

Following the exercises, representatives of the Russian and US forces will meet in Colorado Springs in September to evaluate the drills and sign a protocol confirming the results, he added.