Russia Flies Nuclear-Capable Bombers to Region Facing Alaska

Fri, 23 Aug 2019

Russia Flies Nuclear-Capable Bombers to Region Facing Alaska

Voice of America
15 Aug 2019, 06:35 GMT+10

Russia said on Wednesday it had flown two nuclear-capable TU-160 bombers to a far eastern Russian region opposite Alaska as part of a training exercise that state media said showed Moscow's ability to park nuclear arms on the United States' doorstep.

The Tupolev TU-160 strategic bomber, nicknamed the White Swan in Russia, is a supersonic Soviet-era aircraft capable of carrying up to 12 short-range nuclear missiles and of flying 12,000 km (7,500 miles) non-stop without refueling.

Russia's Ministry of Defense said in a statement that the planes had covered a distance of over 6,000 km (3,728 miles) in over eight hours from their home base in western Russia to deploy in Anadyr in the Chuktoka region which faces Alaska.

It said the flight was part of a tactical exercise that would last until the end of this week and was designed to rehearse the air force's ability to rebase to operational air fields and to practice air-to-air refueling.

Russian government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta said on its website that the flight showed Moscow's ability to base nuclear bombers within 20 minutes flight time from the United States, which it said was just over 600 km (372 miles) away.

TU-160s have flown from bases in Russia to Syria where they have bombed forces opposed to President Bashar al-Assad, one of Moscow's closest Middle East allies.

The defense ministry said a total of around 10 TU-160 bombers and TU-95MS and IL-78 planes were involved in the exercise, suggesting it covered other areas too.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Greek Herald.

More Information

International Business

New European HQ for ActiveCampaign to be in Dublin

DUBLIN, Ireland - A Chicago-headquartered email marketing, sales & marketing automation, and CRM software company is to open an office ...

Tourists from India, Saudi Arabia and UK flocking to Dubai

DUBAI, UAE - Dubai hosted more than eight million international overnight visitors in the first six months of this year, ...

For Istanbul's Syrians, a time of hoping and hiding

When Syrian refugees first arrived in Istanbul almost eight years ago, many made for Fatih, a district of historic mosques ...

Bosnian-Dutch Production Takes Top Prize At Sarajevo Film Festival

A Bosnian-Dutch film titled Take Me Somewhere Nice has won the best-picture award at the 25th Sarajevo Film Festival presented ...

Tatjana Schoenmaker chats to Sport24

Cape Town - In an exclusive interview, TATJANA SCHOENMAKER talks about setting the standard in female swimming in South Africa, ...

Bok omission will see Willemse head for England

Cape Town - According to Western Province coach John Dobson, Damian Willemse is still playing for a place in the ...

Mediterranean

For Istanbul's Syrians, a time of hoping and hiding

When Syrian refugees first arrived in Istanbul almost eight years ago, many made for Fatih, a district of historic mosques ...

Tatjana Schoenmaker chats to Sport24

Cape Town - In an exclusive interview, TATJANA SCHOENMAKER talks about setting the standard in female swimming in South Africa, ...

India to receive first Rafale aircraft next month: Modi

Paris [France], Aug 23 (ANI): The first Rafale aircraft will be handed over to India next month, said Prime Minister ...

Weather, power outage halt ATP Winston-Salem Open

Washington - Severe weather and a power outage halted play on Thursday at the ATP Winston-Salem Open, where none of ...

South America eye clean sweep in absence of star names at Vuelta

Madrid - A swathe of absentees leaves the door open for a first-time winner and a South American clean sweep ...

Cheika names 'unpredictable' Wallaby World Cup squad

Sydney - Coach Michael Cheika on Friday said the Wallabies planned to be "unpredictable" in Japan as he tapped uncapped ...

Movie Review

The Post

Post