Russian and Norwegian sailors to hold joint exercise

11.05.2011 Practical phase of Russian-Norwegian joint exercise Pomor-2011 will take place in the Barents and the Norwegian seas in May 2011. The exercise will be conducted with participation of Northern Fleet (NF) large ASW ship Vice Admiral Kulakov, Norwegian frigate Helge Instad, coast guard ships, helicopters, and ASW aircrafts.

Pomor-2011 is the second large-scale exercise conducted by Norwegian Navy and Russia's Northern Fleet. It will consist of several episodes including gun firings at air and sea surface targets, search and attack of a submarine, antiaircraft actions, anti-piracy operation, release of oil platform or civil vessel from armed extremists, joint maneuvering, mutual deck landing of helicopters, rescue of sailors suffering distress, and other drills. Most spectacular events are gun firings, flights of helicopters and aircrafts, joint maneuvering, and ship inspections carried out by marines.

The main purpose of the exercise is to practice interoperability between Norwegian and Russian mariners in the Arctic region.

Norwegian frigate Helge Instad arrived in Northern Fleet main naval base Severomorsk with official visit on May 7. Vice Admiral Kulakov was Russia's host ship.

Sea phase of the exercise started on May 11 and will last 5 days (May 11-15). Participating ships will call at Tromso in the morning of May 16 to summarize the exercise. On May 17 the crews will take part in festivities related to the Norwegian Constitution's Day. NF band is on board Vice Admiral Kulakov to play at the festival.

Command of Russian and Norwegian armed forces attach great importance to the Pomor exercise. It demonstrates capability of the two countries to resolve potential problems in the region by their own efforts without intervention of a third party.