Russian commander: Tu-160s penetrate US airspace undetected
{{date|April 25, 2006}}

{{missing image|Image:Tu 16019.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The '''[[w:Tupolev Tu-160|Tupolev Tu-160]]''' is a supersonic stategic bomber}}

A senior [[w:Russia|Russia]]n air force commander has claimed that new, upgraded [[Wikipedia:Tupolev Tu-160|Tu-160]] bomber aircraft were unchallenged by US air defense systems when they penetrated a radar zone near the Canadian coast in US territory during an April training exercise, reports the Russian news agency [[w:RIA Novosti|RIA Novosti]]. 

Commander of Russia's long-range strategic bombers, Lieutenant General Igor Khvorov said that the bombers successfully carried out four mock Tu-95MS cruise missile launches, 200 mock bombings, and 53 mock sorties during the exercise. The RIA Novosti reported that the [[w:United States Air Force|United States Air Force]] is currently investigating how the Tu-160's escaped detection. 

Lieutenant General Igor Khvorov said, "They were unable to detect the planes either with radars or visually."
 
Khvorov denies any link of the tests to the current US-Iranian tension, saying, "Of course, our exercises did not have anything to do with the situation in Iran, but their organization indirectly echoed in that region."

The Tupolev Tu-160 is a strategic bomber introduced in 1987. It resembles the North American [[w:B-1B Lancer|B-1B Lancer]], but is larger and faster, being powered by four NK-32 afterburning turbofans, the largest in any combat aircraft.  It is not considered to be a stealth aircraft due to its exposed engine inlets and broad wing gloves.

According to Khvorov over the course of this year, two additional Tu-160s will be commissioned for the long-range strategic bomber fleet with the numerous upgrades, including the ability to launch cruise missiles, aviation bombs, and satellite communication.

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://en.rian.ru/russia/20060422/46792049.html
|title= Russian bombers flew undetected across Arctic - AF commander
|author=|pub=RIA Novosti|date=April 22, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11502888
|title=Russian warplanes entered Canadian radar zone unnoticed
|author=|pub=Interfax|date=April 22, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/04/24/Navigation/177/206145/Russians+claim+bomber+flights+over+US+territory+went.html|title=Russians claim bomber flights over US territory went undetected|author=|pub=Flight International|date=April 24, 2006}}

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[[category: Russia]]
[[category: United States]]
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:Arctic]]
A senior Russian air force commander has claimed that new, upgraded Tu-160 bomber aircraft were unchallenged by US air defense systems when they penetrated a radar zone near the Canadian coast in US territory during an April training exercise, reports the Russian news agency RIA Novosti. 

Commander of Russia's long-range strategic bombers, Lieutenant General Igor Khvorov said that the bombers successfully carried out four mock Tu-95MS cruise missile launches, 200 mock bombings, and 53 mock sorties during the exercise. The RIA Novosti reported that the United States Air Force is currently investigating how the Tu-160's escaped detection. 

Lieutenant General Igor Khvorov said, "They were unable to detect the planes either with radars or visually."
 
Khvorov denies any link of the tests to the current US-Iranian tension, saying, "Of course, our exercises did not have anything to do with the situation in Iran, but their organization indirectly echoed in that region."

The Tupolev Tu-160 is a strategic bomber introduced in 1987. It resembles the North American B-1B Lancer, but is larger and faster, being powered by four NK-32 afterburning turbofans, the largest in any combat aircraft.  It is not considered to be a stealth aircraft due to its exposed engine inlets and broad wing gloves.

According to Khvorov over the course of this year, two additional Tu-160s will be commissioned for the long-range strategic bomber fleet with the numerous upgrades, including the ability to launch cruise missiles, aviation bombs, and satellite communication.

category: Russia
category: United States
Europe North America Arctic