"These drills are necessary to know how well we are prepared to use the new technology that ships are equipped with," the Sputnik agency quoted the Defense Ministry as saying in a statement.

The statement said the ships had repulsed a default air attack and an attack on submarines in the Mediterranean.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced earlier that Russian Navy and Aerospace Forces would conduct large-scale maneuvers in the Mediterranean from September 1 to 8.

The warships of the North Sea, Baltic, Black Sea and Caspian Seas, as well as the Strategic Air Force (long range) aircraft, the transport aircraft and the air force, are participating in the exercises.

There will be also 30 aircraft carrying out tasks in the international airspace, including the strategic TO-160 bombers, the TO-142MK and IL-38 submarines, the SU-33 and S-30S M, "the Navy.