Russia to Resume Tu-160 Bomber Flights

Russian Air Force Commander-in-Chief Vladimir Mikhailov announced last week that Russia would resume flights of its Tu-160 “Blackjack” strategic bomber this week, according to RIA Novosti. The flights were halted in mid-September after one crashed during a mission (see GSN, Sept. 19, 2003).

Prior to November 2003, the Russian Air Force operated 15 Tu-160s, according to ITAR-Tass. Each bomber is capable of carry 12 strategic cruise missiles (ITAR-Tass, Jan. 15).

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