13 Sep 2012 21:37

Russian strategic bombers, fighter jets hold 3-day exercise - ministry

MOSCOW. Sept 13 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian fighter jets and strategic bombers have spent a total of no less than 10 hours in the air during a three-day tactical exercise in which they trained interaction with each other and with ground air defenses, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

Tupolev Tu-95MS bombers and Sukhoi Su-27 fighters (NATO reporting names: Bear and Flanker respectively) were involved in the exercise, held in the Russian Far East. "Altogether about 15 aircraft were in the air," the spokesman, Col. Vladimir Drik, told Interfax-AVN.

The exercise was held in the area of the Ukrainka air base in the Amur region and coordinated by the commander of the Long-Range Air Force, Lt. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev.