Putin revives Russia's long-haul bomber flights

By Guy Faulconbridge

CHEBARKUL, Russia (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Friday security threats had forced Russia to revive the Soviet-era practice of sending bomber aircraft on regular patrols beyond its borders.

Putin said 14 strategic bombers had taken off simultaneously from airfields across Russia in the early hours of Friday on long-range missions.

"We have decided to restore flights by Russian strategic aviation on a permanent basis," Putin told reporters after inspecting joint military exercises with China and four Central Asian states in Russia's Ural mountains.

"Today, August 17 at 00:00 hours, 14 strategic bombers took to the air from seven airfields across the country, along with support and refueling aircraft ... From today such patrols will be carried out on a regular basis.

"We hope our partners will treat this with understanding."

In Washington, officials said they did not anticipate any threat to U.S. security from the Russian flights.

"If Russia feels as though they want to take some of these old aircraft out of mothballs and get them flying again, that's their decision," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters.

But the sorties are likely to add to Western concern about Russia's growing assertiveness. That trend has prompted some U.S. policymakers to draw parallels with the Cold War.

Putin caused a stir this year by saying Russian missiles would again be aimed at targets in Europe if Washington pursues plans to build a missile defense shield in eastern Europe.

Russian diplomats have clashed with the United States and European governments on issues such as Kosovo, energy, and Moscow's treatment of its ex-Soviet neighbors.

"CHEST-POUNDING"

Western military leaders have said this year that Russian flights near their airspace were becoming more frequent after a long quiet period.

One Western defense official called the flights "a little bit of chest-pounding, trying to let people know Russia is back in the game".

Putin said that when Russia had cut its flights in 1992, other military powers had not reciprocated.

"Flights by other countries' strategic aircraft continue and this creates certain problems for ensuring the security of the Russian Federation," Putin said.