the Ministry of defence of the Russian Federation to the correspondent “RG” reported that the forces on duty at the air defense of the Western and southern military districts in a timely manner opened of the strategic bombers b-1B US air force over neutral waters of the Black and Baltic seas and took to the air for their escort fighters. “At a considerable distance from the state border of the Russian Federation American bombers was constantly accompanied by a Russian radar means of control”, – said the Agency.
For interception purposes was used the su-27P and su-30CM from the composition of the active-duty air defense forces of the southern military district. Their crews approached to a safe distance to air targets, to identify them as aircraft strategic aircraft b-1B, after which American bombers changed the direction of flight from the state border of the Russian Federation.
In the defense Ministry stressed that the flights of Russian military aircraft were held strictly in accordance with international rules of airspace use. And after the fighters returned safely to the airfield.
At the same time it became known that two strategic bombers of the U.S. air force In-1B Lancer at some stage of the flight over Europe and the Black sea acted together with Ukrainian su-27, MiG-29 and a Turkish tanker aircraft KC-135 Stratotanker. The command of the U.S. air force in Europe and Africa issued a statement in which, with reference to the commander of this group of General Jeffrey Lee Harrigan been said that “the flights of bombers over Europe demonstrate the US commitment to the support of allies and partners and at the same time clearly telling anyone about our commitment to deterrence”.
it is Known that participating in the RAID-1B are based at a military air base Ellsworth in South Dakota. In the message command of the United States also noted that a joint mission of the American, Ukrainian and Turkish aircraft was held for the first time. And in some parts of the flight, including over the Black sea, accompanied them and provided air cover, the air force of Poland and Romania.
Recall that the strategic bomber US air force B-1B Lancer is a carrier of nuclear weapons. In addition, this aircraft – the most powerful rocket and bomb load and number of guided and unguided weapons on Board among all the American combat aircraft.
