Strategic planes resume flights on permanent basis - Putin

Strategic planes resume flights on permanent basis - Putin

17.08.2007, 17.11

CHEBARKUL RANGE (Chelyabinsk region), August 17 (Itar-Tass) -- President Vladimir Putin said Russia would resume flights of its long-range aviation on a permanent basis beginning from Friday.

"Fourteen strategic missile carriers, support planes and tanker planes took off from seven Russian airfields in various parts of the country at 00:00 Moscow time on August 17. Combat alert has begun," Putin said.

He called on other countries for an understanding.

“Since 1992, the Russian Federation unilaterally stopped flights of its strategic aviation in remote combat areas. Regrettably, not all of countries followed suit. This has created certain problems for Russia’s security. For this reason I have made the decision on the resumption of flights of Russian strategic aviation”.

“We proceed from the assumption that our partners will meet the resumption of such flights with an understanding,” Putin said.

“Combat alert has begun today. Twenty strategic missile carriers take part in it. The planes that have scrambled will be in the air for 20 hours with refueling and in interaction with the Navy,” Putin said.

“”I believe that our fliers sat too long. They made flights occasionally, for example, during strategic exercises, but now they are happy that they are beginning a new lease of life,” he said.
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