Main image: The B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes up to 50,000 feet. Pictured: A United States Air Force B-52H Stratofortress and a Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornet flying over the Northern Territory during Exercise Talisman Sabre 23. Talisman Sabre enables the U.S. and Australia to exercise our combined capabilities to conduct high-end, multi-domain warfare, to build and affirm our military-to-military ties and interoperability, and strengthen our strategic partnerships. (U.S. Air Force Courtesy Photo)
American strategic bombers conducted a training flight in Finland near the Russian border for the first time, as reported by Finnish Defense Forces press service
Two US B-52 Stratofortress bombers flew in the FIN airspace on Sunday, 21 July. The flight was part of training activities supported by three US tanker aircraft, according to the statement.
According to the Norwegian newspaper The Barents Observer, heading north to Lapland, the B-52s approached the Kola Peninsula from the southwest, circled, and then returned south.
The bomber crews could see almost the entire peninsula, which houses Russian missile submarines and the Olenya airbase, from where Tu-95MS bombers take off for strikes on Ukraine.
During the flight over Finland, the American planes were accompanied by a group of Finnish Air Force F/A-18s.
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen commented that such flights are a routine cooperation within a NATO member country, demonstrating the foundation of collective defense and deterrence.
