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Russian bombers unleash barrage of cruise missiles in latest war games by Putin after clashes with the West

2021-07-08 00:00:00.0 太阳报-世界新闻原网页

RUSSIA has unleashed a barrage of cruise missiles in the Arctic in the latest war games by Vladimir Putin’s nuclear forces.

The drills involved both Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers in major exercises across the region.

A Russian Tu-95MS strategic bomber powers up to take part in war games in the Arctic Credit: East2West 4

Video shows flames erupting from a stern gun near Irkutsk Credit: East2West

Russia flexed its military muscles in a show of strength after recent clashes with a Royal Navy destroyer and Nato war games in the Black Sea.

The bombers fired high-tech guided rockets from altitude and successfully hit targets on land, Russia’s aerospace forces announced today.

"During the tactical flight exercise, crews of the Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers conducted launches of airborne cruise missiles at land-based targets at a firing range in the Arctic region," a statement said.

The planes took off from an airfield in the Saratov region and covered a distance of more than 4,000 km (2,485 miles).

Footage released by the defence ministry does not show the cruise missiles pummelling the Arctic.

But it highlights a Tu-95MS firing from stern air guns at targets in the Irkutsk region in Siberia.

Tu-160 White Swan nuclear bombers also took part in the missile launches Credit: East2West 4

The drills were a show of strength after recent clashes with Nato forces Credit: East2West

The Tu-160 - known as White Swan - is a supersonic variable-sweep wing heavy strategic nuclear bomber with the Nato reporting name of Blackjack.

It is the world’s heaviest combat aircraft, and the fastest bomber in use today. It entered service in 1987.

The Tu-95 with contra-rotating propellers is known to Nato as "Bear", and was first flown in 1952.

Russia intends to keep it flying until 2040.

Russia’s strategic nuclear forces are this year reported to be conducting more than one military exercise every two days.

Their latest drills - due to continue until tomorrow - come two weeks after a major international incident when a Russian pilot claimed he dropped bombs in the path of HMS Defender off the coast of Crimea.

So-called “warning shots” were also fired from FSB coastal patrol vessels as tensions between East and West reach their highest since the Cold War.

This week Russia claimed two Su-30 fighters intercepted a US Navy P-8 Poseidon spy plane and blocked it from entering its air space.

'PROVOCATION'

Russia also deployed Tu-22M3 long range bombers over the Black Sea as it warned the West against repeating the “provocation” of HMS Defender sailing close to annexed Crimea.

The giant supersonic warplanes buzzed the sea for five hours escorted by Su-30 fighters as Nato forces joined Ukraine for the annual Sea Breeze military exercises.

Putin’s spokesman hit back at a comment by UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab that Royal Navy warships would continue to ply international shipping routes south of Ukraine.

Russia claims HMS Defender entered its territorial waters around Crimea but the West does not recognise the Kremlin’s jurisdiction over the disputed region.

“Every time when Russia’s state border is violated, the necessary measures will be taken,” warned spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

"The border guards will take steps stipulated by all instructions in the event of state frontier violations and certainly, all diplomatic tools will be also used.”

He also warned: “They simply should not violate Russia’s state border, nor should they do this in an absolutely provocative way.”