Russian Air Force cadets using Syrian experience in training.

The training centre of the Zhukovsky and Gagarin Air Force Academy in Syzran in the Volga area is using the experience gained by army aviation units in the Syrian Arab Republic, the Defense Ministry’s press office said.

A Russian MI-28 during a public demonstration at MAKS 2019, Russia

In particular, the training centre has introduced changes into the qualification requirements, modified the educational program and the final-year cadet flight training program and is working on new learning guides, the press office added. "Tactical flight drills have been planned and are being held for the instructors to practice tactical and flight techniques based on the combat experience gained by Aerospace Force army aviation units in the Syrian Arab Republic," the press office said.

The education got at the training centre in Syzran allows the officers to climb the career ladder from entry-level positions to helicopter squadron commanders. Graduates from the training centre of the Zhukovsky and Gagarin Air Force Academy in Syzran in the Volga area have logged more than 50 hours each in 2019.

"Each lieutenant has received a TO&E assignment and started a training course to learn to operate advanced Mil Mi-8MTV-5 [NATO reporting name: Hip], Mi-8AMTSh, Mi-35M [Hind], Mi-28N [Havoc] and Kamov Ka-52 [Hokum-B] army aviation helicopters," the press office said.

"The most skilled officers were assigned to the position of instructors at the training facility of the Air Force Academy in Syzran," the press office added. The training centre in Syzran has graduated more than 300 lieutenants in 2019.

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