Russia’s Tank Biathlon 2016 in pictures

Sunday, 14 August 2016 10:58 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 15 August 2016 5:14 AM ]

Russia's and Azerbaijan's T-72B3 tank crews seen competing in the semifinals of the Tank Biathlon competitions at the Alabino range.

Watch teams from around the world compete in Tank Biathlon 2016, a breathtaking military race which is part of Russia’s large-scale International Army Games.

Nineteen teams from across the globe took part in the two-week games which came to an end at the Alabino firing ground outside the capital city Moscow on Saturday.

*Mongolian crew of T-72B3 tank, left, and Iranian crew before the semifinals of the Tank Biathlon competition at Alabino training field. ( Photos by Sputnik)*

The contest is held more or less like a classic biathlon only with tanks which are tasked with covering around 20 kilometers in the shortest time while shooting at various targets with their main cannons and machine guns.

*Crew of the Russian army's T-72B3 tank during the final contest of the Tank Biathlon competition at the Alabino training ground in the Moscow Region.*

All this year participants used Russian made T-72B3 battle tanks, with the exception of China which used domestic Type 96A.

*Russia's T-72B3 tank crew seen competing in the semifinals of the Tank Biathlon competitions at the Alabino range.*

Russia ended up as this year’s winner, with 20 medals, while Kazakhstan and China came in second and third place respectively from among several teams from Iran, Azerbaijan, India, and other countries.

*Participants in the final contest of the Tank Biathlon competition at the Alabino training ground in the Moscow Region.*

After the games came to an end, a senior Iranian military commander told Russia’s RIA Novosti that Iran would be participating in the next year’s event.

"We participated in the games for the first time and we came 5th in the competitions out of participants from 19 countries. We thank Russia for assistance, hospitality and cooperation," said Major General Vali Madani on Sunday.

"We competed in the tank biathlon for the first time and we learned a lot. Unfortunately, at the end, we faced some difficulties. We hope we will prepare better for the games next year," he added.

Over 120 teams from 19 countries took part in Russia’s International Army Games which was held across various training grounds across Russia and Kazakhstan.

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