From Global Security Newswire:

The head of the Russian air force on Saturday accused NATO member states of practicing attacks against long-range strategic bombers from his nation, Agence France-Presse reported (see GSN, May 1).

“Regularly as our flights are fulfilling combat patrols, we are tracked by planes from the patrol forces of both NATO and other countries,” Interfax quoted Gen. Alexander Zelin as saying. “Over the waters of the Arctic Ocean we are regularly attacked by F-15, F-16 and F-22 aircraft. I did not use the word ‘attack’ lightly, as our partners, so to speak, practice combat maneuvers, up to the threshold of an attack.

“I can tell you this is not very pleasant, even dangerous. Naturally we practice countermaneuvers,” Zelin said.

Russia has no plans to stop sending strategic bombers far outside its territory, the general added. Russia resumed the bomber missions last August for the first time since the end of the Cold War, when the flights were conducted routinely by the Soviet Union (see GSN, August 9, 2007). The planes are not armed with nuclear weapons, according to Russian officials.

Flights are scheduled to continue over the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific oceans as well as the Black and Mediterranean seas, Zelin said (Agence France-Presse/NASDAQ.com, May 10).