A video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense showcases two Tu-160 strategic bombers conducting a scheduled flight over the airspace of the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean, lasting approximately 8 hours.
Fighter escort was provided by the crews of the Su-35S planes of the Russian Aerospace Forces.
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According to the video, “The flight was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace,” stated the commander of long-range aviation, Lieutenant-General Sergey Kobylash.
“Long-range aviation pilots regularly fly over the neutral waters of the Arctic, the North Atlantic, the Black and Baltic seas, and the Pacific Ocean,” he emphasized.
Tupolev Tu-160
The Tupolev Tu-160 (NATO Code: Blackjack) is a supersonic strategic bomber developed by the Soviet Union.
Origin and Development: The Tu-160 was designed and manufactured by the Tupolev aerospace company and made its inaugural flight in 1981. It officially entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1987.
Purpose: It was designed as a long-range penetration bomber, capable of carrying nuclear and conventional weapons.
Speed and Range: The Tu-160 is the world’s largest and heaviest supersonic bomber, capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 2.05. It has an operational range of over 12,000 kilometers without refueling.
Armament: The bomber can carry a variety of weapons, including nuclear-capable cruise missiles and conventional missiles.
Design: One of the main highlights of the Tu-160 is its variable-geometry wing, allowing it to adjust the shape of its wings for better efficiency at different altitudes and speeds.
Activity: Although developed during the Cold War, the Tu-160 is still in service and has been updated over the years. Russia, inheritor of the Soviet aircraft fleet, continues to use and update the Tu-160. In recent years, the aircraft has been used in show-of-force missions and actual operations, such as cruise missile strikes in Syria.
Photos and video: Telegram t.me/mod_russia
