The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation announced today that two Tu-160 strategic missile carriers of the Aerospace Forces completed a planned flight in airspace over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea. The total flight time exceeded eight hours.
Several fighter jets of European countries have escorted two Russian Tu-160 bombers over the Baltic Sea. "At certain stages of the route, the long-range aircrafts were accompanied by F-18 fighters of Finland's Air Force, F-16 of Poland, and Saab JAS 39 Gripen of Swedish Air Force," said the Ministry of Defence in its statement.
Long-range aviation pilots regularly fly over the neutral waters of the Arctic, North Atlantic, Black and Baltic seas, and the Pacific ocean.
All flights of the Russian Aerospace Forces are carried out in strict accordance with the International Airspace Management System without violating the borders of other states.
Tu-160 strategic bomber (NATO reporting name Blackjack) is the world’s heaviest military aircraft. Its takeoff weight is over 270 tonnes and its maximum speed is 2,200 km/h. The bomber can carry 12 long-range cruise missiles with nuclear warheads. The plane has the crew of four.
Source - Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
