Pomor-2010 exercise planning conference was held at Northern Fleet

07.05.2010 A two-day planning conference of joint Russo-Norwegian naval exercise Pomor-2010 was held on board large ASW ship Severomorsk. The exercise to be carried in waters of the Norwegian and the Barents seas in June 4-15 will consist of four episodes including gun firings at aerial and sea surface targets, detection and attack upon submarine, antiaircraft warfare, antipiracy operation, release of oil platform captured by armed extremists, cooperative maneuvering, deck landing of helicopters, rescue of sailors in distress, and other drills.

Main objective of the exercise is to train interoperability between Norwegian and Russian navies and air forces in ecologically vulnerable environment of Arctic region.

Norwegian Navy will be represented by guided missile frigate Otto Sverdrup, Coast Guard ship Nordkapp, Orion patrol aircraft, F-16 fighters and Lynx helicopters. Russia's Northern Fleet will be represented by large ASW ship Severomorsk, Il-38 ASW aircraft, Su-33 fighters and Ka-27PS helicopter.

The conference was attended by Capt 1 rank Lars Saunes, head of maritime operations department of Norwegian main operational command, and Capt 1 rank Sergei Veselov, chief of Northern Fleet's combat training department. Safety measures were one of the basic questions of discussion. The parties came to uniform understanding of implementation of all exercise stages.

Result of the conference was signing of a protocol confirming the agreements reached.

It is planned to conduct final conference just prior to the exercise at Norwegian base Hokonsvern in June 4-7. Summarizing of the exercise will be held in Severomorsk in June 12-15.