Russia sends 12 bombers to Atlantic, Arctic

A0129234.jpgMOSCOW – Russia on Friday sent 12 air force bombers to take part in naval exercises over the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, Itar-Tass news agency quoted a spokesman for Russia’s air force as saying.

“Twelve long-range aircraft took off today to participate in the concluding phase of exercises with the Russian navy attack group,” the Russian air force spokesman said.

He said the bomber group included two Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers, codenamed “Blackjack” by NATO, two turbo-prop Tu-95 strategic bombers, codenamed “Bear”, and eight Tu-22 bombers.

On Thursday Russia sent eight air force bombers to train over international Arctic waters, testing its in-flight refueling capacity and combined forces air traffic control with the navy.

Last month Russian warships and bombers took part in military maneuvers off the Atlantic coast of France and Spain in what Moscow billed as its biggest navy exercise in the area since Soviet times.

Check Also

The Western Balkans At A Crossroads: An Old War From In New Geopolitical Compositions (Part II) – OpEd

The Western Balkans is transforming into one of the primary fronts of confrontation between global …