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Russia sparks Cold War scramble | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Russian bombers have flown to the US Pacific island of Guam in a manoeuvre reminiscent of the Cold War era. | |
Two Tu-95 turboprops flew this week to Guam, home to a big US military base, Russian Maj Gen Pavel Androsov said, a story confirmed by the US. | |
They "exchanged smiles" with US pilots who scrambled to track them, he added. | They "exchanged smiles" with US pilots who scrambled to track them, he added. |
The sorties, believed to be the first since the Cold War ended, come as Russia stresses a more assertive foreign policy, correspondents say. | The sorties, believed to be the first since the Cold War ended, come as Russia stresses a more assertive foreign policy, correspondents say. |
The flight is part of a pattern of more expansive Russian military operations in recent weeks, says BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus. | The flight is part of a pattern of more expansive Russian military operations in recent weeks, says BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus. |
Old practice | Old practice |
Gen Androsov said the strategic bombers had flown 13 hours from their base in the Russian Far East during the exercise. | Gen Androsov said the strategic bombers had flown 13 hours from their base in the Russian Far East during the exercise. |
We prepared to intercept the bombers but they did not come close enough Pentagon spokesman "It has always been the tradition of our long-range aviation to fly far into the ocean, to meet [US] aircraft carriers and greet [US pilots] visually," he said at a news conference. | |
"Yesterday [Wednesday] we revived this tradition, and two of our young crews paid a visit to the area of the base of Guam," he said. | "Yesterday [Wednesday] we revived this tradition, and two of our young crews paid a visit to the area of the base of Guam," he said. |
"I think the result was good. We met our colleagues - fighter jet pilots from [US] aircraft carriers. We exchanged smiles and returned home," he added. | "I think the result was good. We met our colleagues - fighter jet pilots from [US] aircraft carriers. We exchanged smiles and returned home," he added. |
A spokesman for the Pentagon confirmed that the Tu-95s were spotted heading to Guam, adding that US fighter readied themselves to repel them. | |
"We prepared to intercept the bombers but they did not come close enough to a US Navy ship or to the island of Guam to warrant an air-to-air intercept," the spokesman said. | |
During the Cold War, Soviet bombers regularly flew long-haul missions to areas patrolled by Nato and the US. | During the Cold War, Soviet bombers regularly flew long-haul missions to areas patrolled by Nato and the US. |
The bombers have the capability of launching a nuclear strike with the missiles they carry. | The bombers have the capability of launching a nuclear strike with the missiles they carry. |