Two Russian strategic bombers, Tupolev Tu-95MS, have performed a 40-hour patrol flight over the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific Oceans, and the Japanese Sea, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik told Interfax-AVN on Thursday.

(Kazan, July 30, Tatar-inform). Two Russian strategic bombers, Tupolev Tu-95MS, have performed a 40-hour patrol flight over the Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific Oceans, and the Japanese Sea, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik told Interfax-AVN on Thursday, says Interfax.

"The crews have a set a new record for the Tu-95MS aircraft by staying in mid-air for about 40 hours, thus breaking last year's record by four hours," Drik said.

At various stages of the flight, the Tu-95MS bombers were escorted by NATO fighter aircraft, he said. "These were the F-18, F-16 and F-15 aircraft of the Canadian, Norwegian and Japanese air forces," Drik said.

During the mission the crews performed four mid-air refuelings from the Ilyushin Il-78 tanker, he said.

The airplanes successfully landed at the base airfield where they were met by families and air base commanders, Drik said. The pilots will be rewarded by the Long-range Aviation command for the results of their flight, the officer said.

To accomplish this mission, Russia's Long-range Aviation involved its best crews that included young pilots as well, the defense official said.

"Last month, a similar flight mission was performed by the crews of Tu-160 supersonic strategic bombers, who also set a new record for this type of aircraft by performing a more than 24-hour continuous flight," Drik said.