- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Russia’s Tu-95 Bear Still Haunts NATO Generals – French Media

© Flickr / Greg BishopTupolev TU-95
Tupolev TU-95 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
The Cold War era Tu-95 Bear might be old, but the Russian strategic bomber is still capable of striking a mighty blow against its enemies and presents a significant threat to the US and its NATO allies, defense news website Aerobuzz.fr reported.

Currently Russian authorities are investigating an incident which occurred last week that killed two men after a Tu-95 crashed in Russia's Far East during a routine training flight. Although the engine-failure was first cited as the cause of the accident, now investigators suspect the use of low-quality fuel.

A Tupolev Tu-95 Bear strategic bomber - Sputnik International
Russia
Russian Tu-95 Bear Strategic Bomber Crashes in Khabarovsk Region
If the fuel version ends up being the cause of the Tu-95 crash, then the words of military experts still hold true — despite its old age, the old Russian bear is still going strong and the accident has nothing to do with its reliability, Aerobuzz.fr said.

To NATO military generals, the Tu-95 is what it has always been — a true nightmare. In response to NATO's increased activity near Russian borders, Moscow began to carry out more Tu-95 training flights, making the Western alliance nervous. Every time NATO radars detect the mighty Russian bomber, their planes are forced to intercept, monitor and escort the Bear.

"Western fighter pilots who intercepted and accompanied the Tu-95 will never forget the noise and vibration felt when flying near the giant," Aerobuzz.fr said.

© Sputnik / Anton DenisovTu-95 strategic bomber
Tu-95 strategic bomber - Sputnik International
Tu-95 strategic bomber

The reason behind NATO's fuss over the Tu-95, which can fly up to 14-hours at speeds of 800 km/h at an altitude of 11,000 meters, is that the intercontinental Russian bomber is capable of striking the United States with nuclear bombs.

The Cold War veteran continues to relentlessly survey the skies around Russian borders reminding everyone that Russia is a power to be reckoned with. The Tu-95 Bear is expected to remain in service for at least another decade.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала