Russia has invited the U.S. to participate in a tank biathlon so that both nations may learn to play nice 鈥� with heavy artillery.
The invitation was apparently extended while Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel Sergei Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu in Washington on Friday. The "two-on-two" talks were intended to relieve some of the tension between the two countries, so the suggestion of a little friendly competition 鈥� under fire 鈥� wasn't out of place.
Defense Minister Shoigu repeated the invitation during a Friday press conference, and according to Russia's , Shoigu says the U.S. agreed.
"'We've invited our American colleagues to participate ... and our invitation was accepted by US Secretary of Defense [Chuck] Hagel,' Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Saturday."
NPR can't confirm this 鈥� calls to the Department of Defense went unanswered Saturday 鈥� but if such an event does take place, Shoigu says it'll be sometime next year.
Russia might have the advantage, however; Russia has already hosted at least two tank biathlons. Another, the championship, is planned .
As to what exactly happens in a tank biathlon, think of a regular biathlon 鈥� then forget about it:
"In the tank biathlon, every tank runs almost 20 kilometres at a maximum possible speed, while firing from all weapons the targets, which are rising in different directions and distances. On the course, a tank has to pass repeatedly a ford, fences, a rut bridge, high-speed sections and overtaking passages. At all the times, the crew remains constantly in the firing position."
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