Strategic aircraft successfully launch cruise missiles

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov informed the president about the major exercises of long-distance aircraft units deployed in the Far East.

"Tu-95 strategic missile carriers, Tu-22 long-distance bombers, accompanied by fighters and an A-50 radar support airplane - our equivalent of Awacs - carried out flights in the north and launched aircraft-based long-distance cruise missiles," the defense minister said at the president's regular conference with members of government.

"The launches were a success," Mr. Ivanov said.

In his words, training targets in Siberia and in the vicinity of the Arctic Ocean were destroyed.

"The majority of aircraft crews, which is pleasant to note, were staffed with young pilots. For some of them, these were their first such flights," Mr. Ivanov said.