Moscow. July 25th. INTERFAX-AVN - Russian and Chinese strategic bombers conducted a 5-hour joint air patrol over the Chukchi, Bering Seas and the North Pacific Ocean, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
"An air group consisting of strategic missile carriers Tu-95MS of the Russian Aerospace Forces and strategic bombers Hun-6k of the PLA Air Force carried out air patrols over the waters of the Chukchi, Bering Seas and the North Pacific Ocean. The duration of the joint flight of Russian and Chinese aircraft was more than 5 hours," the Russian Defense Ministry said.
The ministry reported that at some stages of the route, the air group was accompanied by fighters from foreign countries.
"During the flight, Russian and Chinese crews worked out issues of interaction at all stages of air patrol in the new area of joint operations. Fighter aviation cover was carried out by Su-30SM and Su-35S aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces," the Russian Defense Ministry said.
They stressed that "the aircraft of both countries acted strictly in accordance with the provisions of international law, violations of the airspace of foreign states were not allowed."
"The event was held as part of the implementation of the military cooperation plan for 2024 and is not directed against third countries," the ministry said.
The Russian Defense Ministry said that after a joint patrol, all aircraft returned to their home airfields.
Canadian and American fighter jets were sent to "intercept" four Russian and Chinese Air Force bombers that were detected in the airspace off the coast of Alaska, the Joint Aerospace Defense Command of North America (NORAD) reported earlier.
The report says that the flight of two Russian Tu-95MS and two Chinese H-6s, which were located in the Alaska air defense identification zone, was monitored.
NORAD stated that "the bombers did not invade the sovereign airspace of the United States or Canada and remained in international airspace," and that "activity in the zone was not considered a threat."
Russian strategic missile carriers Tu-95MS, as well as Tu-160 and long-range bombers Tu-22M3 are part of the Long-range aviation of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation.
Long-range aircraft are an aerial component of the Russian nuclear triad, but they can also strike with conventional missile and bomb weapons, including cruise missiles.
In July, Russian and Chinese ships conducted joint patrols in the Asia-Pacific region. It involved the Russian corvette "Perfect", the Chinese destroyer "Yinchuan" and the frigate "Hengshui", as well as the universal supply transport "Weishanhu". On July 13, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that during a joint patrol in the Philippine Sea, Russian and Chinese ships conducted exercises with practical artillery and simulated missile firing.
On July 15-17, the ships of Russia and China held a joint exercise "Maritime Cooperation-2024". The maneuvers involved the Russian corvettes "Loud" and "Sharp", the Chinese destroyer ships "Yinchuan", the frigates "Dali" and "Hengshui", the universal supply transport "Weishanhu".
