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Two Russian supersonic strategic bombers Tu-160 fly transit mission from Venezuela to Nicaragua

All flights of the aircraft of the Russian AF are made strictly in line with the International Rules for the use of air space

Photo ITAR-TASS/ Marina Lystseva

Photo ITAR-TASS/ Marina Lystseva

MOSCOW, October 31 (Itar-Tass) - In accordance with the Plan for the Operational Training of the Long-Range Aviation of the Russian Air Force, two supersonic strategic missile-carrying bombers Tu-160 have made a flight from the Venezuelan Maiquetia airfield to Managua airfield in Nicaragua.

An official in the press-service and information department of the Russian Defence Ministry said Thursday, the two aircraft "flew over neuatral waters of the Caribbean Sea, after which they entered the air space of the Republic of Nicaragua and made a routine landing".

During the transit mission, the aircraft covered a distance of more than 2,500 km. The duration of the transit flight was about three hours.

All flights of the aircraft of the Russian AF are made strictly in line with the International Rules for the use of air space, the department official pointed out.

The missile-carrying aircraft Tu-160 had taken off from the Engels airbase in Saratov Region, and made the flight in accordance with the Plan for the Operational Training of Long-Range Aviation. They flew over the Caribbean and Eastern part of the Pacific Ocean, along the south-western coast of North America and made the first landing at Maiquetia airfield in Nicaragua. They made a 13-hour nonstop flight from Russia, covering a distance of 10,000 km. When flying over the territory of Norway, the aircraft were escorted by two Norwegian fighter planes F-16 that scrambled from Bodo airf base.

At Maiquetia airfied, the crews of the aircraft were greeted on behalf of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the Republic's Defence Minister Carmen Melendez.

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