Russian strategic bombers have been accompanied for over three hours by NATO fighters while on patrol over the Arctic and Atlantic oceans.
“For the first time ever the strategic bombers had eight escorts of F-16, Tornado and Typhoon fighters during their flight and refueling,” Russian Air Force Assistant Commander, Col. Aleksandr Drobyshevsky, said. The bombers took part in mid-air refueling, with the planes 20 metres apart. The strategic patrol missions which stopped in 1992 were resumed by Russia in August 2007. Russian strategic bombers regularly patrol the neutral areas of the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and the Black Sea from their bases and supplementary airfields.