Russian, US warships begin major Pacific Eagle exercise
Russian and US warships begin a three-day Pacific Eagle exercise in the Sea of Japan on Friday to train mine-sweeping, artillery fire, arrest of a violating vessel, and rescue of a shipwreck, Itar-Tass reports.
The exercise will engage two US warships – missile destroyer Lassen and mine countermeasures ship Patriot, while the Russian Pacific fleet will engage a big anti-submarine ship, a minesweeper, a navy aircraft, and an auxiliary vessel.
The Pacific Eagle, which is to cover an extensive area from Vladivostok to La Perouse Strait, will be one of the largest in the history of both countries. So far such an exercise was held only in 1998.