Reply With Quotearen´t they just flexing their muscles a little?
Russia conducts Tu-22 drills
take a look HERE
Russia conducts Tu-22 strategic bomber drills in the south
15:09 | 24/ 08/ 2007
MOSCOW, August 24 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers successfully conducted a series of tactical exercises in the south of the country and in Kazakhstan this week, an Air Force spokesman said Friday.
The Tu-22M3 Backfire-C is a supersonic, swing-wing, long-range strategic bomber that Russia uses mainly to patrol the skies over its southern borders, Central Asia and the Black Sea region.
"We held a series of strategic bomber exercises [involving Tu-22M3 bombers] Tuesday and Friday to practice penetrating the air defenses of a potential adversary," Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky said.
"The crews also conducted simulated bomber raids at the Guryanovo testing range in the Saratov Region [southern Russia], and practiced launches of cruise missiles at the Emba testing range in Kazakhstan," he said.
President Vladimir Putin announced August 17 that Russia had permanently resumed long-range patrol flights of strategic bombers, which were suspended in 1992 after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Speaking on the final day of large-scale military exercises involving Russia, China, and four Central Asian countries in the south Urals, Putin said: "Air patrol areas will include zones of commercial shipping and economic activity. As of today, combat patrolling will be on a permanent basis. It has a strategic character."
The announcement gained substantial coverage in British and other Western media, which called the Kremlin's move a return to the Cold War era.
It also apparently triggered serious concerns in NATO, which recently increased its monitoring of Russian bomber flights in neutral airspace.
Last Friday, the British Defense Ministry reported an alleged incident, the second this summer, in which the Royal Air Force had to scramble its Typhoon fighters to intercept a Russian Tu-95MS Bear-H strategic bomber that approached British air space during a flight over the North Atlantic.
Russia has denied any wrongdoing, saying its planes never violate foreign airspace, and their actions have no aggressive intent against other countries.
However, the Kremlin's assurances did not stop attempts by foreign media to further fuel fears that a new military buildup is underway in Russia.
Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper said Friday on its Web site that NATO vessels are closely monitoring sea trials of the latest Russian diesel missile submarine with enhanced stealth capability in the Baltic Sea.
The Project 677 Amur submarine features a new anti-sonar coating for the hull, an extended cruising range, and advanced anti-ship and anti-submarine weaponry.
The newspaper speculated that Russia could be testing NATO's "ability to defend territorial waters in much the same way that bomber flights can test its ability to defend airspace."
aren´t they just flexing their muscles a little?
Airforces carry out excercises all the time, Russia does and it makes so much news.
Maybe cuz Russia isnt just any other country in the world.Originally Posted by PrivatePyle
No, its silly season stuff. Padding out the papers whilst there's nothing else going on.
We all know that the Russians attempt to come back to the superpower arena. They're not ready yet, so no reason to panic.
Armed Forces do exercises all the time to keep troops good to go, so I understand your point. " OMG some General in North Korea farted!" lets post it quick and make a big deal.
I think this is some interesting news personally. Although from the "Russophobe" point of veiw, yea this is really nothing to be alarmed about. Good for Russia, they are flying their long range bomber jets again.
Ok, the stories about the Russian air force are getting a bit old.. Them resuming strategic patrols is one thing, but why are regular exercises news?
It would be like American B-52s training in Canada or something making international news..
When Americans do it, or even the Indians its not news, for the mere fact they have been doing it past decade.
While Russians were down and out in the past two decades.
Its their revival, the defeated cold war adversery finding her foot again.
Its major news.
Do you mind if I ask where the hell you've been for the last eight years? Abducted by aliens? The Russian Air Forces have been flying exercises for years.
Ahem, Not of these kind ;sir.
I hope you are clear now.
Russian air force presents:
Tu-95. The modern way of adverisement. It's not just the fastest propeller-driven aircraft in the world, it offers you the best PR per gallon ratio in the world. Forget the Budweiser Zeppelin, 3,330 ft² wing area are waiting for your advertisement. Guaranteed first page appearance on all major newspapers advertising your products if the aircraft gets close to NATO airspace.
They should have Tu-95's flying banners into NATO airspace:
"Baltika Beer - prefered drink of Tu-95 pilots on duty"
"Lukoil - powering Russia's strategic Detterant"
Scare the West and Promote Russian products at the same time
Rumours also say that they are going to create a Digital billboard on the +500 meter Federation Tower under construction in Moscow.
Well I think they do all that news to depict Russia as the bad guy very angry with the west
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