Politics
11:02, 06-May-2017
Russian bombers fly over waters along Aleutian Islands
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Russian long-range strategic bombers flew over the waters of the Pacific Ocean along the Aleutian Islands on Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
"On May 4, Tu-95MS airplanes accompanied by multi-purpose Su-35S fighter aircraft, carried out the scheduled flights over the neutral waters of the Pacific Ocean along the Aleutian Islands," the ministry stated.
All flights were carried out in strict accordance with international rules in the use of air space over neutral waters, without violation of borders of other states, the ministry added.
A Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighter (L) and a Sukhoi Su-30 multirole fighter aircraft during the Caucasus 2016 strategic drills at Opuk range of Russia's Southern Military District. /VCG Photo
A Sukhoi Su-35 multirole fighter (L) and a Sukhoi Su-30 multirole fighter aircraft during the Caucasus 2016 strategic drills at Opuk range of Russia's Southern Military District. /VCG Photo
According to RT, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) spokesperson Capt. Ashleigh Peck said that two US Air Force F-22 stealth fighter jets were scrambled after the group was spotted flying near and then entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ), which extends into neutral waters.
The bombers and fighter jets were “visibly identified” and “intercepted” by the US aircraft at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday [0100 GMT Thursday], Davis said.
An Ilyushin Il-78 Midas air force tanker and a Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear strategic bomber at the military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War. /VCG Photo
An Ilyushin Il-78 Midas air force tanker and a Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear strategic bomber at the military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in the 1941-1945 Great Patriotic War. /VCG Photo
A separate report from CNN said that the US military sees these flights as routine and pose no concern. This is the first time Russian bombers have been accompanied by fighters in these types of flights since 2015, the report added.
The Tu-95MS is a modernized and upgraded variant of the Tu-95, a four-engine turboprop-powered strategic bomber and missile platform that entered service in 1956.
In November 2015, Tu-95MS bombers carried out cruise missile attacks in Syria, the first time they were used in long-range airstrikes.
(Source: Xinhua, RT, CNN)