A Russian Tupolev Tu-95 plane is photographed by the Norwegian Air Force in International waters outside the coast of Norway.
Photo: Reuters
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NATO Jets Witnessed In-Flight Refueling of Russia’s Tu-95
Russia’s Tu-95 long-range bombers had air refueling over the neutral waters of the Atlantic Ocean. They were escorted by NATO jets during it, Colonel Alexander Drobyshevsky told RIA-Novosti Thursday.
“Two Tu-95 jets and two Il-78 jets successfully completed past night the scheduled patrol of neutral waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The flight lasted for over 15 hours with one in-flight refueling. Russia’s jets were escorted by NATO fighters [Tornado and F-16] during the flight,” said Drobyshevsky, who is the aide to Russia’s Air Force commander.
“This element [in-flight refueling] is considered the peak of flight proficiency - two 200-ton planes dock with each other via a flexible refueling system at the distance of 20 meters and at the speed of 600 km/hour. Making this element is particularly difficult if Russia’s planes are escorted by NATO fighters,” the colonel pointed out.
This refueling enables strategic Tu-160 and Tu-95 MS to perform missions during the flights that last for more than a day.
“All flights of Russia’s Air Force aircraft have been and are made in strict conformity with the international laws for the airspace above neutral waters and without violating borders of other states,” the official emphasized.
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