The Alliance scrambled fighter jets to intercept Tu-95MS strategic bombers, which dictator Vladimir Putin sent to the borders of Great Britain during the Christmas holidays. The flight of Russian aircraft over the neutral waters of the Norwegian and Barents Seas lasted more than seven hours. The information is reported by Mirror, writes UNN.
Details
Russian missile carriers, known by NATO codification as "Bears", performed maneuvers accompanied by Su-33 fighters. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation called the mission planned, but the involvement of aircraft, which are part of the nuclear triad, near the British borders is regarded as an attempt to pressure the West.
Long-range Tu-95MS bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces performed a planned flight in the airspace over the neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas. The flight lasted more than seven hours
Alliance reaction and aircraft characteristics
NATO was forced to react promptly to the approach of aircraft to the area of responsibility of member states. The Russian side confirmed the fact of observation of their aircraft.
At certain stages of the route, long-range bombers were accompanied by fighters of foreign states
The Tu-95MS remain the only strategic bombers in the world with turboprop engines. In addition to nuclear deterrence, these aircraft are used by the Russian Federation for massive strikes with conventional missiles on the territory of Ukraine, which lead to significant destruction of civilian infrastructure and loss of life.