ENGELS (Saratov region), September 29 (RIA Novosti) - Russian long-range aircraft have crossed the Arctic Ocean, flown over the geographic Arctic pole and reached Alaska, the Aleutian Islands and Japan's west coast, the commander of Russia's Long-Range Aviation Command said Friday.
"All aircraft were above neutral waters and did not approach the territorial waters of other nations closer than 12 nautical miles [16 miles]," Lt.-Gen. Igor Khvorov said.
The commander of Russia's Air Force said Tuesday that more than 50 strategic and long-range bombers were involved in a major exercise that began Tuesday.
"I cannot remember such a large-scale, long-range aircraft exercise in Russia's history," Vladimir Masorin said.
He said Tu-160 Blackjacks, Tu-95MS Bears and Tu-22M3 Backfires will fly above the Arctic and Pacific oceans and the Black and Caspian seas.
"Each plane will launch missiles, and a Tu-22M3 bomber will perform bombing runs at practice ranges," Masorin said.
