Russian General Gives Details of Strategic Bomber Flights

Text of report by Russian news agency Interfax-AVN website

Moscow, 18 August: Strategic (long-range) aviation pilots were involved in about 50 flights in the course of an exercise that has just been completed, the commander of the Russian Air Force’s long- range (strategic) aviation, Maj-Gen Pavel Androsov, told Interfax- AVN on Saturday [18 August].

“There have been about 50 flights by Tu-160, Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3 and Il-78 aircraft, with a total flying time of more than 400 hours. The airfields at Olenye, Vorkuta, Monchegrsk, Tiksi, Anadyr, Engels and Shaykovka were used,” the commander said.

According to him, the flights took place over the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans as well as the Black Sea, in coordination with fighter aviation (Su-27) and an A-50 long-distance radar detection and aviation control aircraft. “The Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic aircraft were in the air for 13 hours each, travelling at a cruising speed of 900 km/h,” Androsov said.

“In the course of the flights, 21 NATO fighters were observed to approach our aircraft. They accompanied us more than five hours,” the commander said.

“We are planning to have regular flights because they are the main type of training for the crews of strategic and long-range bombers in the arsenal of the long-range aviation,” Androsov said.

Originally published by Interfax-AVN military news agency website, Moscow, in Russian 1407 18 Aug 07.

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