MOSCOW -- Russia's Air Force Chief Vladimir Mikhailov on Wednesday decried the deplorable state of aircraft being used in the Chechen war while declaring his pilots had been badly trained, the news agency interfax-AVN reported.

"An analysis of operations (which began September 1999) has thrown light on several substantial problems," Mikhailov told the agency while stressing the air force was responsible for 70 percent of combat operations, AFP reported.

A number of planes "remain on the ground due to shortage of parts needed for repairs", Mikhailov said but added the problems with pilots were "even more acute".

At the beginning of operations, pilots and bombers were trained "to find their reflexes" rather than carrying out military duties, he said, adding that pilots were usually trained in the course of combats.

The air force's inefficiency at the start of operations was due to a shortage of information about the rebels' positions, he said.

He also criticized the Russian military units in charge of search and rescue operation who he said were "incapable of assisting" pilots.

The general's comments came as Russian and Chechen pro-Moscow authorities tightened security around the capital Grozny and elsewhere in anticipation of possible rebel attacks to mark the anniversary of the August 6, 1996 rebel invasion of Grozny.

Russia poured troops into the breakaway republic of Chechnya in October 1999 in what Moscow termed an anti-terrorist operation.

But a brutal guerrilla conflict has raged since, in which Russia has lost around 4,500 troops, according to its own figures. The soldiers' mothers lobby group believes the true figure is at least double that.

According to a recent poll, six out of 10 Russians want the government to open peace talks to bring an end to the nearly three-year conflict, in which some 80,000 Russian troops are fighting.