The crews of long-range aviation have successfully performed the air patrol mission using two Tu-95MS strategic bombers, ITAR-TASS reports with reference to the official representative of the Russian air forces, Colonel Vladimir Drik.

"The turboprops have got off from Engels Air Force Base located in Saratov Region, - he noted. – The air route ran above the water zone of Arctic Ocean".

The crews of Tu-95MS aircraft have drilled the skills in the area of performing flights above featureless terrain, performed refueling with the participation of Il-78 tankers intended for reaching distant North Atlantic Regions. The flight duration was over 20 hours.

According to Drik, Tu-95MS aircraft were escorted by two MiG-31s within the state boundary of RF in the network of team building drill. Two Tu-95MS aircraft have been escorted by eight Eurofighters of UK Royal Air Forces, F-16s of Belgium, Norwegian and Danish air forces throughout the flight above neutral waters.

According to the approved flightplan, the pilots of long-range aviation perform regular patrol missions above neutral waters of Arctic, Atlantic, Black Sea and Pacific Ocean from base and operational airfields. All the flights of Russian air forces’ aircraft are performed in accordance with international rules for exploitation of the air space above neutral waters without violation of other countries’ boundaries.