Moscow. November 13. INTERFAX-AVN - Two Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers conducted an hour-long patrol over the northern seas, at some stages they were accompanied by British fighters, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.
"Two Tu-160 long-range strategic missile carriers performed a planned flight in the airspace over the neutral waters of the Barents, Norwegian and North Seas," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
"At certain stages of the route, Russian strategic missile carriers were accompanied by Eurofighter Typhoon fighters of the British Air Force," the Russian military department reported.
Strategic missile carriers-Tu-160 bombers are capable of carrying nuclear weapons. These aircraft are part of the air component of the Russian nuclear triad.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that two Tu-160 spent about 15 hours in flight, refueled in the air. The cover of the bombers was provided by the MiG-31 long-range interceptor fighters of the Russian Northern Fleet.
"All flights of aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces are carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
On Friday evening, European media, citing the Dutch Defense Ministry, reported that Belgian Air Force F-16 aircraft and British fighter jets were lifted into the air to escort two Russian Tu-160 bombers over the North Sea.
On November 11, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that two Tu-160 bombers conducted patrols in the airspace of Belarus.
On November 10, two long-range Tu-22M3 bombers flew over Belarus, which, according to the Russian military, participated in checking the air defense system.
