12/15/2012 News Flash Links checked 3/2/2015. Editorial note: These Russian missions have continued since first reported,

THE BEAR ON THE HUNT FOR U.S. AIRCRAFT CARRIERS ENTERS THE SOUTH PACIFIC

The Mission According to Mr. Putin, To Exchange Smiles. We're Not Amused

Flight by Nuclear Capable Long Range Bomber Near Guam Had One Purpose, Intimidation

Image Credit: WIKI  Russian TU 22 Maritime Patrol Bomber 

Russia resumes nuke bomber sorties

• STORY HIGHLIGHTS
• Russian strategic bombers resume Cold War-style long-haul missions
• Russian, U.S. crews "exchanged smiles" as bomber flew over U.S. Pacific base
• Bombers enable Russia to launch nuke strike even if ground arsenals wiped out
• Next Article in World »

MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) -- Russia's strategic bombers have resumed the Soviet Union's Cold War practice of flying long-haul missions to areas patrolled by NATO and the United States, generals said on Thursday.

A Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber, the type of plane used on long-range sorties into areas patrolled by NATO.

A Russian bomber flew over a U.S. military base on the Pacific island of Guam on Wednesday and "exchanged smiles" with U.S. pilots who had scrambled to track it, said Maj. Gen. Pavel Androsov, head of long-range aviation in the Russian air force.

"It has always been the tradition of our long-range aviation to fly far into the ocean, to meet [U.S.] aircraft carriers and greet [U.S. pilots] visually," Androsov told a news conference.

"Yesterday we revived this tradition, and two of our young crews paid a visit to the area of the [U.S. Pacific Naval Activities] base of Guam," he said.

LINK TO COMPLETE STORY:  

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/08/09/russia.sorties.reut/index.html

SOURCE: Reuters