Russia sends 12 bombers to Atlantic, Arctic

A Russian Tupolev Tu-95 plane photographed by the Norwegian Air Force in International waters off the coast of Norway, August 17, 2007. Russia on Friday sent 12 air force bombers to take part in naval exercises over the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, Itar-Tass news agency quoted a spokesman for Russia's air force as saying.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Friday sent 12 air force bombers to take part in naval exercises over the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans, Itar-Tass news agency quoted a spokesman for Russia's air force as saying.

"Twelve long-range aircraft took off today to participate in the concluding phase of exercises with the Russian navy attack group," the Russian air force spokesman said.

He said the bomber group included two Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers, codenamed "Blackjack" by NATO, two turbo-prop Tu-95 strategic bombers, codenamed "Bear", and eight Tu-22 bombers.

On Thursday Russia sent eight air force bombers to train over international Arctic waters, testing its in-flight refueling capacity and combined forces air traffic control with the navy.

Last month Russian warships and bombers took part in military maneuvers off the Atlantic coast of France and Spain in what Moscow billed as its biggest navy exercise in the area since Soviet times.

(Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge)