Russian strategic bombers to conduct exercises this week

MOSCOW, September 17 (RIA Novosti) - Russian strategic bombers will conduct a series of long-range training flights, with aerial refueling during the exercises, scheduled for September 18-21, an Air Force spokesman said Monday.

"During the exercise on September 18-21, Russian strategic bombers Tu-160, Tu-95 and Tu-22M3, and Il-78 aerial tankers will conduct long-duration daytime and night flights with mid-air refueling," Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky said.

Major-General Pavel Androsov, the commander of the Russian Air Force's strategic aviation, will supervise the exercise.

Moscow announced in mid-August that routine flights by strategic bombers had been resumed, and would continue on a permanent basis, with patrol areas including commercial shipping and economic production zones.

According to various sources, the Russian Air Force currently deploys 141 Tu-22M3 bombers, 40 Tu-95MS bombers, and 14 Tu-160 planes.