Russia’s Tu-160 bombers conduct 13-hour flights over Barents and Norwegeian seas

Europe, News February 16, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Two Russian Tu-160 supersonic strategic bombers conducted a 13-hour flight mission and performed in-flight refueling over the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

According to the Defense Ministry’s statement, “Two Tu-160 strategic bombers have performed a scheduled flight in the airspace above neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian seas” that lasted about 13 hours.

The Defense Ministry highlighted that two of its Tu-160 long-range missile carriers perform their flights over international waters in strict compliance with international rules.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that two Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers have also conducted a scheduled flight over the neutral waters of Chukchi and Okhotsk seas. The two bombers conducted flights for over 7 hours.

“Su-30 fighters from Air Force and Air Defence Formation of the Eastern Military District escorted the aircraft [two Tu-95MS strategic bombers],” the statement read. Two turboprop strategic bombers had previously conducted a flight over the neutral waters of the Bering Sea.

According to the statement, Russia’s long-range aviation crews conduct regular flights over the neutral waters of the Arctic, North Atlantic, Black, and Baltic Sea, as well as the Pacific Ocean.

*^{Russia’s Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic missile carrier. (Image Credit: Alex Snow/Wikimedia Commons)}*

Last month Russia announced that its new and improved Tupolev Tu-160M bomber prototype has successfully completed its second phase of aerial testing. The bomber has now been delivered to the ministry of defense for further trials before it receives a nod of approval for production.

The Tu-160 is known for its bright and reflective stealth white coating that covers the whole airframe giving it the nickname “White Swan”. The bright white coat on the plane has been added for the protection of the crew during a nuclear explosion. During a nuclear explosion, the coating would reflect some of the thermal energy.

The Tupolev Tu-160M is an upgraded variant of the Tu-160 bomber and features new weaponry, improved electronics, and avionics, which increases its combat effectiveness. The bomber is considered as the backbone of the Russian Air Force’s long-range aircraft, along with Tu-95MS bombers.