Bomber flights on same level

In European airspace, Russian military aircrafts have only one route to show-off in international airspace. Via the Barents Sea. If flying anywhere in the south, the aircrafts will have to violate another country`s airspace.

When Russian strategic bombers round Norway's northern tip over the Barents Sea and flies south, Norwegian or British fighter jets are sent into action within minutes to identify them.

The Russian aircrafts, normally strategic bombers like the old Tu-95 propeller or the supersonic Tu-160, are then followed all the way outside Norwegian airspace.

Russia resumed long-range patrols around the Barents Region coast in 2007 after an extended layoff that followed the end of the Cold War.

F-16 scrambled 32 times

In total, 87 Russian strategic bombers were identified last year, compared to 88 in 2007. Norway`s quick response squadron are normally scrambled from Bodø airbase, just north of the Arctic circle.

The Bodø local newspaper, Avisa Nordland, writes that Norwegian F-16 fighter jets scrambled 32 times last year, compared with 47 times in 2007.

But not all missions of Russian strategic bombers are watched by NATO jet fighters. If the strategic bombers don`t turn south after passing outside the North Cape and continues north in the Arctic they are most likely not observed by other means than radar.

First ever 15 hour flights

Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported before Christmas that more than 60 strategic and long-range bombers from Engel's Air Base near Saratov, as well as 15 fuel tankers, had flown patrol missions in 2008. They carried out more than 60 sorties, launching over 100 tactical missiles and clocking a total of 660 flight hours.

For the first time in the Russia's strategic aviation history, Tu-160 bombers had made two 15-hour flights with midair refuelling of up to 25 tons of fuel on each mission.

Photo: wartechnic.ru

Modernization program

For 2009, Russian strategic forces start the modernization program for both the Tu-160 fleet and some of the older Tu-95 fleet, according to the head of the 37th Air Army Major General Pavel Androsov, reports Global Security Newswire.

All strategic bombers will get new targeting and navigation technology. Modernization would serve to increase the bombers' operational ranges and boost their capabilities to counter U.S. missile defenses or fighter jets from the United States and other NATO nations, Major General Androsov indicated.

In addition, the upgraded aircraft could also be used for dropping conventional bombs, Major General Androsov said.