Tu-160, Tu-95MS, Tu-22 long-range aviation warplanes used to deliver strikes on ISIL targets in Syria - Shoigu
MOSCOW. Nov 17 (Interfax) - Tupolev Tu-160, Tu-95MS strategic bombers are used in the strikes on ISIL targets in Syria, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"Tu-160, Tu-95MS, Tu-22 long-range aviation warplanes are used in the destruction of the gangs in addition to operational tactical aviation from the Russian territory," Shoigu said at a meeting in the Defense Ministry chaired by Russian President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.
Warplanes of the Russian operational tactical aviation are acting from the Hmeimim airbase in Syria.
Commander of the Russian Long-Range Aviation Lt. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev reported to Putin that all types of attack planes, which the Long-Range Aviation is armed with, are used, namely Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers and Tu-22M3 long-range bombers to perform combat tasks in Syria.
"The crews of strategic and long-range bombers are accomplishing the tasks to strike the sites in strict compliance with the plan of delivering the first massive air strike. Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers have landed on their airfields upon accomplishing the combat mission. The maintenance and preparations of aircraft for future sorties are being conducted, the objective control materials are being analyzed," Zhikharev said.