The 7th Annual Special-Purpose Triathlon has been held in Moscow Region. The main feature is the applied nature of all the disciplines and the integrated approach to preparing the challenges.
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Gleb Schelkunov
The 7th Annual Special-Purpose Triathlon, the most specialized of all sports, has been held in Balashikha, Moscow Region. It was dedicated to the 40th anniversary of Alpha Group, an elite unit of Russia's special forces.
Gleb Schelkunov
Competing at the Vityaz Training Center were 14 teams from around the world.
Gleb Schelkunov
The main feature of the special-purpose triathlon is the applied nature of all the disciplines and the integrated approach to preparing the challenges.
Gleb Schelkunov
This means that the exercises are designed so that the simple ability to run, shoot, or abseil flawlessly will not suffice.
Gleb Schelkunov
To successfully pass all the stages of the competition in the quickest time demands a combination of these skills from each and every participant.
Gleb Schelkunov
"The enemy does not stand still, is always improving, and sometimes even gets a step ahead with sophisticated methods that we don't have. But we have to find an antidote, including at events such as these", says head of Directorate "A" of the FSB Special Purpose Center Valery Kanakin.
Gleb Schelkunov
In the first stage the competition, participants demonstrate their ability to shoot from a moving vehicle. After hitting all the targets, the commandos must render proper medical assistance to the "injured" driver.
Gleb Schelkunov
The second stage involves a special obstacle course and a shooting range with sub-machine guns.
Gleb Schelkunov
The weapons used are both Russian (PP-2000, modified AKs, etc.) and internationally renowned special-mission classics, such as Heckler & Koch.
Gleb Schelkunov
The obstacle course consists is varied and much of it is done at high altitude with very high energy expenditure.
Gleb Schelkunov
All this adds to the complexity of the shooting range. From among the targets the commandos have to remember the faces of four "terrorists", who differ from the others only very slightly.
Gleb Schelkunov
There is a time penalty for hitting the wrong ones, which can impact the team standings at the final count.
Gleb Schelkunov
The third and final stage is the storming of a "skyscraper", where abseiling and shooting skills are tested to the limit.
