BRAZEN Vladimir Putin sent his supersonic strategic bombers close to the UK in a chilling nuclear drill.<\/p>\n

Footage shows the Tupolev Tu-160s – known as White Swans – and Tupolev Tu22M3s in flight over the Norweigan Sea.<\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

The jets flew close to northern Britain during exercises that lasted more than 13 hours as Russia attempted to flex the Kremlin's nuclear muscle.<\/p>\n

They also went over the Black Sea – part of the war zone of Putin's conflict in Ukraine – and the Barents Sea.<\/p>\n

The Tu-160 strategic missile-carrying bombers and Tu-22M3 long-range supersonic bombers are a key part of Russia\u2019s nuclear strike force.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Air escort was provided by Su-30SM and MiG-31 aircraft of the Russian aerospace forces and naval aircraft of the Northern Fleet.<\/p>\n

More world news<\/h2>\n

<\/picture>SICK FILES <\/span><\/p>\n

Fresh hope for hostages as \u2018laptops full of pics found at Hamas hospital HQ\u2019<\/h3>\n

<\/picture>MEGA MISSILE <\/span><\/p>\n

Putin threatens West with \u2018meteorite\u2019 nuke able to hit anywhere in 30 mins<\/h3>\n

Moscow called the flights \u201croutine\u201d but they come amid high tensions between Russia and the West over Putin\u2019s invasion of Ukraine.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The routing involved flying to the north of the Shetland Islands, it is understood.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Russian defence ministry said: "Planes of the Russian Aerospace Forces' long-range aviation have performed routine flights in airspace over international waters of the Barents Sea, Norwegian Sea and Black Sea.<\/p>\n

\u201cTu-160 strategic bombers and Tu-22M3 long-range bombers took part in the missions."<\/p>\n

Most read in The Sun<\/h2>\n

<\/picture>diddy bombshell <\/span><\/p>\n

Sean Combs accused of rape & abuse by ex Cassie as rapper denies claims<\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/picture>WELFARE SHAKE-UP <\/span><\/p>\n

Thousands of unemployed Brits to LOSE benefits under tough new plans<\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/picture>END OF AN ERA <\/span><\/p>\n

Netflix axes FIVE series in most brutal TV cull yet – leaving fans devastated<\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/picture>SCRUM OF THE OTHER <\/span><\/p>\n

Stuart Hogg splits from wife & enjoys spa with ‘world’s sexiest jockey’<\/h3>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Lt-Gen Sergey Kobylash, commander of Russian long-range aviation, added: \u201dAll the flights were carried out in strict conformity with international rules on the use of airspace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Long-range aviation warplanes constitute the air component of Russia's nuclear triad, but they can also carry out strikes using conventional missiles and bombs, including cruise missiles.<\/p>\n

Putin's propagandists have repeatedly demanded\u00a0he should deploy tactical nuclear missiles in the conflict – or against Western countries supplying modern arms to Kyiv, a threat also voiced by some Russian officials.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Tu-160 – also known as Blackjack – is a Russian supersonic variable-sweep wing strategic missile-carrying bomber dating from the Soviet era.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Tu-22M3 planes have been used to strike Ukraine with conventional weapons.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It comes after Putin readied his deadly 20,000mph "meteorite" hypersonic missile for combat.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0nuclear-capable\u00a0weapon can be fired outside the earth's atmosphere before striking anywhere in the world in less than 30 minutes.<\/p>\n

It is the only weapon of its kind in the world and\u00a0Putin\u00a0has warned the West possesses no means to stop it.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The missile with its Avangard hypersonic glide vehicle was seen being installed in an underground launch silo at the base of the 31st Missile Army in\u00a0Russia's Orenburg region.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Source: Read Full Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BRAZEN Vladimir Putin sent his supersonic strategic bombers close to the UK in a chilling nuclear drill. Footage shows the<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":101034,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n