Russian, Chinese Strategic Bombers Conduct Joint Aerial Patrol in Asia-Pacific
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – An air task force of Russian Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers and Chinese H-6K strategic bomber jets conducted a joint aerial patrol over the waters of the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday.
"On November 30, 2022, the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Air Force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army conducted a new joint aerial patrol in the Asia-Pacific region.
The air task force composed of Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces and Hong-6K strategic bombers of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army conducted an aerial patrol over the waters of the Sea of Japan and the East China Sea," the ministry said in a statement, TASS reported.
The flight by Russian missile-carrying bombers lasted about eight hours, the ministry specified.
"Su-30SM and Su-35S jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces provided fighter support for the air task force," it said.
The Russian and Chinese strategic bombers made cross landings at airfields of both countries for the first time in their joint aerial patrols, the ministry said.
"For the first time in the history of aerial patrolling, Russian aircraft landed at an airfield in the People’s Republic of China and Chinese planes landed at an airfield on the territory of the Russian Federation," the ministry said.
Fighter jets of foreign states escorted the strategic missile-carrying bombers at some stages of the aerial patrol, the ministry said.
"In the course of accomplishing their missions, the aircraft of both countries acted in strict compliance with the provisions of international law. There were no violations of the airspace of foreign states," the ministry said, stressing that the strategic bombers conducted their joint aerial patrol as part of the 2022 military cooperation plan and the flight was not directed against any third countries.