By Prensa Latina
Moscow : Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers will conduct military exercises in northern Russia from March 31 to April 4, a military source confirmed Sunday.
Russian Air Force spokesman Colonel Alexandr Drovishevski said the maneuvers will include high-risk flight drills.
Missiles will be launched and planes will be re-fuelled in mid-air by the Il-78 tankers, reported the official.
Drovishevski stressed aerial refueling is an exercise of a high degree of difficulty since the two planes, weighing over 200 tons each and flying at 372 miles per hour, are less than 20 meters from each other.
This is the most complicated skill test for a pilot, commented the specialist who announced tha rookie pilots will take part in the exercise.
Last Wednesday, Tu-95 bombers carrying strategic missiles and two IL-78 tankers from the Russian Long-Range Air Force patrolled Artic Ocean and the Pacific, including Alaska
The maneuver, considered successful, lasted for 15 hours and took place in neutral waters.
Operation groups from the Navy and the Air Force keep patrolling the Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Arctic Glacial and the Black Sea permanently as ordered by President Vladimir Putin last August.