Russia hosts the first International Army Games on August 1-15 with teams from 16 other nations expected to take part in various contests organized by the Russian Defense Ministry.
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© Sputnik / Maksim Blinov
Participants of this year's International Army Games include: Azerbaijan, Angola, Armenia, Belarus, China, Egypt, India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Serbia, Tajikistan, Venezuela, as well as Russia.
Above: The Russian Knights aerobatic display team during the opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
Above: The Russian Knights aerobatic display team during the opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
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© Sputnik / Maksim Blinov
Teams will participate in 14 military contests, which, along with the Tank Biathlon, will include competitions for military engineers, pilots and drivers, air defense specialists, sappers, paratroopers, military chemists, artillery crews, and even army cooks.
Above: A solemn opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
Above: A solemn opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
The contests will be held in 11 different locations across Russia ranging from Siberia to the Krasnodarsky Territory.
Above: A solemn opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
Above: A solemn opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
More than 2,000 foreign troops are expected to take part in the games, with 400 foreign observers also due to attend the event.
Above: A solemn opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
Above: A solemn opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
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© Sputnik / Maksim Blinov
According to the rules of the contest, each army has to use its own national weaponry.
Above: A solemn opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
Above: A solemn opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
Tank crews from four continents have arrived at a firing range in Alabino near Moscow to take part in the World Championship Tank Biathlon 2015.
Above: A solemn opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
Above: A solemn opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
Thirteen tank crews will participate using the Russian T-72B3 tank. The Chinese team has arrived in Moscow with their own tank, the Type 96A.
Above: Participants of the competitions in the tank biathlon of the Russia Defense Ministry during of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
Above: Participants of the competitions in the tank biathlon of the Russia Defense Ministry during of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
The contest route for tanks is expected to be more difficult this year with additional obstacles and new shooting practice tests.
Above: Participants of competitions in tank biathlon of the Nicaraguan army during of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
Above: Participants of competitions in tank biathlon of the Nicaraguan army during of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
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© Photo : Maksim Blinov
Colonel Osman Pavel Aguilera, head of the Nicaraguan delegation to the event, said his country was inspired by Russia and would organize its own version of the Army Games.
Above: Participants of competitions in tank biathlon of the Nicaraguan army during of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
Above: Participants of competitions in tank biathlon of the Nicaraguan army during of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
The Aviadarts is an annual competition of flight skills and precision shooting, first held in Russia in 2013. The competition will start on August 2.
Above: The Russian Knights aerobatic team during the opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
Above: The Russian Knights aerobatic team during the opening ceremony of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
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© Sputnik / Maksim Blinov
Motorized infantry units will demonstrate their off-road driving skills during the Suvorov Onslaught contest, named after a renowned 18th century Russian military commander.
Above: Participants of competitions in tank biathlon of the Venezuelan army during of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
Above: Participants of competitions in tank biathlon of the Venezuelan army during of the International Army Games 2015 at the Alabino training field in the Moscow Region.
The People’s Liberation Army of China brought to the event 158 pieces of its own military hardware.
Above: A Chinese soldier takes part in training sessions during the International Army Games-2015 at the Alabino training center in the Moscow Region.
Above: A Chinese soldier takes part in training sessions during the International Army Games-2015 at the Alabino training center in the Moscow Region.
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© Sputnik / Ramil Sitdikov
As part of the Caspian Derby contest, marines from CIS member states will compete at the Adanak Range on the Caspian Sea coast, whereas the Caspian Cup will define the winner between ship crews in a contest held in the sea itself.
Above: Russian soldiers during the rehearsal of the opening ceremony for the International Army Games 2015 at Alabino base outside Moscow.
Above: Russian soldiers during the rehearsal of the opening ceremony for the International Army Games 2015 at Alabino base outside Moscow.
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© Sputnik / Iliya Pitalev
The Airborne Platoon contest will see Russian and foreign paratroopers compete in skills such as parachute landing, firing accuracy, speed and agility.
Above: Soldiers from India, Russia and Angola (from left to right) take part in training sessions during the International Army Games-2015 at the Alabino training center in the Moscow Region.
Above: Soldiers from India, Russia and Angola (from left to right) take part in training sessions during the International Army Games-2015 at the Alabino training center in the Moscow Region.
The Open Water competition will see teams overcoming water obstacles, building ferries to deliver combat vehicles to a destination.
Above: Soldiers from Venezuela take part in training sessions during the International Army Games-2015 at the Alabino training center in the Moscow Region.
Above: Soldiers from Venezuela take part in training sessions during the International Army Games-2015 at the Alabino training center in the Moscow Region.
