MOSCOW, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Pacific Fleet announced on Thursday that it has begun large-scale exercises in the central part of the Pacific Ocean.

As many as 20 surface warships, submarines and support vessels are involved in the exercises, including the fleet's flagship the Varyag missile cruiser, the Marshal Shaposhnikov frigate and the Admiral Panteleev large anti-submarine ship.

Around 20 aircraft are also participating in the drills, including the Tu-142M3 long-range anti-submarine warfare planes and the MiG-31BM high-altitude interceptor-fighters.

The heterogeneous group of forces will practice locating and tracking enemy submarines in far sea zones and coordinating at long distance from their home bases.