At the final stage of large-scale tactical flight exercises of long-range aviation, the crews of the Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers launched air-launched cruise missiles at ground targets at a training ground in the Arctic.
"The launches were carried out normally, the missiles hit targets at the test site, confirming the specified accuracy characteristics," the Russian Defense Ministry said. The ministry clarified that the Tupolevs left the Engels airfield in the Saratov Region for combat use.
In total, the crews covered more than 4,000 kilometers. And the implementation of this task was preceded by the relocation of aircraft to Engels from the Amur and Ryazan regions.
The Ministry of Defense does not disclose what types of ammunition the Tu-160 and Tu-95MS crews used in the Arctic. However, it is known that now the air "strategists" are planned to be equipped with modern cruise missiles X-101 with a firing range of up to 4.5 thousand km and X-102. The Tu-95MS aft guns were also used. However, it was no longer in the Arctic, but at one of the landfills in the Irkutsk region. The crews of the "ninety-fifths" stationed in the Amur Region went there for combat use as part of Long-range aviation exercises. The work in the air took them more than six hours. In addition, the crews of the missile carriers acted on an alarm signal, performed night flights, worked out refueling in the air and trained in the withdrawal of aviation, automotive and special equipment from under the attack of a conditional enemy.
The maneuvers were organized according to a single plan, and the general management of them was carried out by the commander of the Long-Range Aviation of Russia, Sergey Kobylash.
Yuri Gavrilov
