Russian Bombers Visit NATO Summit

… at least they were heading towards it. :diablo:

The NATO summit took place on 25th October in the nice beach resort of Noordwjik. Two Russian Tu-95 Bears flew in international airspace towards the place of the summit and turned about 100nm before reaching it. Norwegian and British fighters were scrambled I heard. News on this issue is small, maybe someone has more details.

Here a report:
OSLO, Norway – The Norwegian military says two Russian bombers on an unusual practice run neared today the Netherlands, where NATO defence ministers are meeting. Spokesman Lt.-Col. John Espen Lien says that another set of bombers earlier today flew unusually close to far northern Norwegian territory, but remained in international air space. Lien says that the later flight – by two Tupolev 160 strategic bombers – followed a course near the Norwegian coast and between Britain and Denmark, before turning back some 190 kilometres northwest of the Netherlands, where NATO defence ministers were meeting in the city of Noordwijk. Russia has routinely sent up bomber flights from its northern bases in recent months in what is broadly seen as a demonstration that its military is again potent, 16 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union left it with few resources. Russian Air Force spokesman Col. Alexander Drobyshevsky told the Russian Interfax-AVN news agency today that those flights were part of worldwide exercises. He said 10 Russian bombers, including the four near Norway, plus two reconnaissance planes and two refuelling tankers had flown practice missions over the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, as well as over the Black Sea during the day.

Here another report:
Another Report

Small news on this issue. Thanks for any further information.