US military uses Russian-style air defense systems during training exercise

The US military practices air assault with Russian-style air defense systems during Southern Strike 19 training exercises at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

Southern Strike is a large scale, conventional and special operations exercise hosted by the Mississippi National Guard.

The 172d Airlift Wing has released video showed with Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) from the 148th Air Force Special Operations Command (ASOS) coordinating targets, AH-64 Apache crews fire on targets during Southern Strike 19 training exercises at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

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At the video were spotted Russian-styled air defense systems, such as Osa and Tor short-range surface-to-air missile systems and BTR-80 wheeled amphibious armoured personnel carrier.

Apache crews relearning air assault skills that were de-emphasised after the threat of a ground war waned with the end Cold War.

The US military uses styled or real combat vehicles and air defense systems to add extra realism to various exercises.

While the United States fought conflicts and insurgencies in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa over the last seventeen years, potential adversaries were studying U.S. operations and developing sophisticated weapons, munitions, and disruptive technologies. U.S. forces must anticipate that adversaries will employ these increasingly systems, some approaching or even surpassing U.S. capabilities.

To date, the US military is shifting its focus toward preparing for great-power conflict, and on the ground in Europe, where heightened tensions with Russia have a number of countries worried about renewed conflict.

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