Russian, Chinese Warships Conduct Night Practice Maneuvers During Drills

Russian and Chinese warships performed maneuvers in formation overnight as part of the active phase of the joint Naval Cooperation 2015 drills in the Mediterranean Sea.

Four task forces took part in the maneuvers, said Captain 1st Rank Igor Dygalo from Russia's Ministry of Defense.

"The ships were tasked with practicing different ways of transmitting signals and changing cruising formation. Surface and air environment in the area was under constant monitoring during the maneuvers," he added.

Ten ships from Russia and China take part in exercise, the first both countries hold in the Mediterranean.

Russia sent its Moskva cruiser along with the Bora-class hoverborne guided missile corvette Samum, the Krivak-class missile frigate Ladny, Project 775 Large Landing Ships (LLS) Alexander Otrakovsky and Alexander Shabalin, as well as Navy Tug MB-31.

Beijing sent two 054A/Jiangkai II class missile frigates, the Linyi and Weifang, as well as supply ship Weishanhu to participate in the drills.

Naval Cooperation 2015 kicked off on May 17 in the Russian city of Novorossiysk and will last until May 21. The exercise is aimed at enhancing mutual understanding between the Russian and Chinese fleets and increasing the ability to respond to maritime threats.

It is not directed at a third party and has nothing to do with the situation in the region, both countries stressed.