The “classic” rules of biathlon competition are applied. As in the skiing contest, participants must hit targets at a distance of 900-2200 meters with three types of weaponry (the targets include a helicopter and an “enemy” firing position), and overcome a tank obstacle course full of ditches, marshes, pits, etc. in the fastest time possible. For misses in the shooting range, teams incur penalty laps.
Crews from Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Iran, Serbia, and another 11 countries are going head to head in Russian-built T-72B3 tanks. The only exception is China, which this year equipped its team with the domestically produced Type 96A.
