August 15, 2007	Wednesday	Sha’aban 1, 1428

MOSCOW, Aug 14: Russian strategic bombers on Tuesday began five days of exercises over the North Pole, marking the latest in a series of displays of Moscow's military muscle.

The nuclear-capable bombers will practice firing cruise missiles, navigation in the polar region and aerial refuelling manoeuvres, the Russian air force said in a statement.

The exercises come barely a week after Russian strategic Tu-95 bombers flew over the Pacific to within a few hundred kilometres of the US military base on the island of Guam — and, according to a Russian general, exchanged grins with US fighter pilots sent to intercept.

They also follow recent attempts by Moscow to bolster Russia's territorial claims in the Arctic region.

One Russian air force officer, who asked not to be identified, told newsmen he expected US interceptors would once again make their presence felt during this week's exercises.

“It is a traditional practice for military pilots to see foreign pilots come up to meet them and say to hello,” he said.

“The United States are aware of our exercise,” he added.

Russia's long-range bombers have been involved in a number of other exercises in recent months.

On July 20, Norway and Britain scrambled its fighter planes after Norway detected Russian bombers flying over the North sea between Norway and Britain.

About 30 Russian aircraft will take part in the polar exercises: TU-95s (Tupolevs) a long-range strategic bomber; TU-22s, the strategic supersonic bomber most used by Russia; and Il-78s (Ilyushins), a four-engine aerial refuelling aircraft.—AFP