Russian Air Force Commander Aleksandr Zelin said today that Russian and U.S. military pilots will participate in joint exercises, reportedly the first time that has ever happened.
Zelin said U.S.-Russian drills will be held in Russia in 2012 and then in the United States in 2013.
Zelin confirmed Russian pilots would be flying "either MiG-29SMT or Su-35" warplanes in the U.S.-based exercises.
He did not say how many warplanes would take part.
Russia and NATO conducted a simulated hijacking exercise in June aimed at tracking a plane through both sides' airspace and eventually forcing a plane to land.
compiled from agency reports