Russian intercontinental bombers will take part in Indian Ocean war games this Autumn aimed at showing off the Russian military's growing reach, the official RIA-Novosti agency reported on Wednesday.
“We are preparing the flights of our strategic aircraft to the Indian Ocean to practice interoperability with the Russian navy task force in the region,” Russian air force commander Alexander Zelin is quoted as saying.
The aircraft, flying from bases in southern Russia, will join Russian warships in carrying out military manoeuvres aimed at demonstrating Russia's ability to defend its interests and protect shipping in distant sea lanes, the agency said.
The giant Tu-95 Bear and supersonic Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers date from the Soviet era, when they performed regular global patrols carrying nuclear weapons.