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karatecatman · Guest

Russia to conduct military exercises in Indian Ocean this fall
05/ 08/ 2008
MOSCOW, August 5 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers will join the Russian navy in a series of exercises in the Indian Ocean, the Air Force commander said on Tuesday.

"We are preparing the flights of our strategic aircraft to the Indian ocean to practice interoperability with the Russian navy task force in the region," Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin said.

A Defense Ministry source later confirmed that a joint exercise involving Russian strategic bombers and combat ships had been scheduled for the fall 2008.

The AF commander said that the Air Force had received orders to increase joint training with the Navy and the number of patrol flights across the world's oceans to ensure the security of Russian shipping in strategically and economically important zones.

Russia resumed strategic bomber patrol flights over the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans last August, following an order signed by former president Vladimir Putin.

"Since August 2007, Russian strategic bombers have carried out about 150 patrol flights with tactical interference of foreign aircraft, which accompanied our planes on their missions and in some instances jeopardized the success of these missions," Zelin said.

The patrols allowed the crews of Russian strategic bombers and aerial tankers to gain experience in mid-air refueling, flights in northern latitudes and the use of forward landing airfields, the general said.

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Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers at the military aerodrome in the city of Engels, Saratov Region

Tu-95 and Tu-160 strategic bombers.

The cabin of a Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bomber.

An air-to-surface cruise missile installed on a Tu-160 strategic bomber. Engels, Saratov Region.

Tu-95 strategic bombers

Tu-160 strategic bomber at a military airfield in Engels, Saratov Region.

The Pavel Taran Tu-160 strategic bomber.

Vladimir Putin in the cockpit of the Pavel Taran Tu-160 strategic bomber.

АAn Il-78T Midas tanker aircraft (above) and a Tu-95MS Bear strategic bomber (below). Strategic and tactical bombers, military transport planes, fighters, close support aircraft, attack and transport helicopters, and special-purpose aircraft will take part in the air parade.

A Tu-95MS Bear-H strategic bomber

A Su-27 Flanker fighter (left) and a Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bomber (right).

karatecatman · Guest

www.sindhtoday.net/south-asia/9982.htm
IAF chief unaware of Russian air force patrol plans in Indian Ocean
Aug 7th, 2008 | By Sindh Today | Category: India
New Delhi, Aug 7 (IANS) The Russians have announced plans to conduct patrol flights over the Indian Ocean region with their strategic Tu-160 and Tu-95 bombers but the Indian Air Force (IAF) chief Fali H. Major remains unaware of any such move.

When asked about the security implications of the Russian move in the Indian Ocean region, Air Chief Marshal Major Thursday said: "'I would have commented on the issue had I known about it. But I have not seen the report yet.""

The IAF chief was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a lecture at the United Services Institution here on Indian Air Force as Aerospace Power.

vivekman · Member Joined: 26 Dec 2006 Posts: 1897 Location: BOM

The Russian TU-160 "Blackjack" bears an uncanny resemblance to the American B-1B "Lancer", doesn't it? Wink

TU-160

B-1B

- Vivek

HAWK21M · Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2008 3:25 pm Post subject:

Shouldn't the countries in the near vicinity be officially briefed about the exercise to avoid any bad incident.
regds
MEL
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stealthpilot · Member Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 2325 Location: BLR, DXB

Looks like the B1B, but not as good looking.
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eP007

HamiltonAir · Member Joined: 25 Dec 2006 Posts: 937 Location: Bangalore

I guess the TU-160 is bigger and heavier than the B1B, no?
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HamiltonAir

texdravid · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject:

Just like the Space Shuttle Buran looks oh so similar to the US Space Shuttle or the various MIG's looking just like the F-15, F-14, F-18/A....

I'm wondering when the Russians are going to copy the B2 Spirit or the F-22 Raptor.

What's the matter, Putrid Putin, don't your spies in the U.S. fax over the blueprints as fast as they once did? Were they more scared of Breznev than you?

Pathetic.
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sammyk · Posted: Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject:

Many are quick to point the finger at the Soviet's simply copying western designs. Now, I'm not saying that that is not the case but I think there is more to it than that. When you're trying to achieve the same goal you many times arrive at the same solution and therefore the designs will be similar. I mean think about it, if they actually stole blueprints and such then why wasn't the design exact? Why would they make it worse?

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