MOSCOW, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Russia's latest BMD-4M airborne assault vehicles, Rakushka armored personnel carriers and Sprut-SD howitzers will be showcased for the first time in the Slavic Brotherhood 2018 international military exercises in June, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday.

According to the ministry, the new military hardware will be involved in the Russian-Serbian-Belarusian tactical drill near Novorossiysk.

The drills will be held from June 18 to 28 at Rayevsky practice range in the Krasnodar Region in southern Russia. The Russian forces, including units of frontline and army aviation of the Air Force and Air Defense troops of the Southern Military District, will participate in the exercise.

The military exercise was first announced in August 2016 when delegations of Russia, Serbia and Belarus met in Belgrade to discuss military cooperation.