Defense Ministry: Long Range Aviation crews accomplish patrolling mission
MOSCOW. Jan 29 (Interfax) - Two Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic bombers stationed at the Engels base have successfully accomplished a patrolling mission, the press service and information department of the Russian Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
"They flew over neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas and the Atlantic Ocean. The Tu-95MS planes were twice fueled from Ilyushin Il-78 tanker planes in the course of their flight. The flight duration exceeded 19 hours," the report said.
Mikoyan MiG-31 interceptor-fighters of the Russian Air Force were escorting the Long Range Aviation aircraft during their mission.
"Typhoon combat planes of the UK, F-16 of Norway and Mirage of France accompanied the Long Range Aviation jets on certain legs of their patrolling route," it said.
Long Range Aviation crews regularly perform patrolling missions over neutral waters of the Arctic Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Black Sea and the Pacific Ocean from base and operative airfields in line with their action plans, the report said.
"Air Force planes invariably perform all of their flights in strict compliance with the international regulations for using airspace above neutral waters and do not trespass across borders of other states," it emphasized.