Tu-142 over the Pacific

Last week, a Tu-142 from Russia's Pacific Fleet practised flying over the sea. During the ten-hour flight, the two crews covered around 8000 kilometres. The focus was on the use of the aircraft far from radar-monitored airspace. According to Russian sources, the Tupolev was accompanied by US Navy F/A-18 fighter jets for some of the flight.
The Tu-142 is a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft based on the Tu-95 long-range bomber, which made its maiden flight in 1952. It is similar in size to the American B-52.

Text: mb; Photo: MoD Russia