Russian Navy Bears over the Mediterranean

Early October 2020, two Russian Federation - Naval Aviation (AVMF-RF) Tu-142MK Bear bomber aircraft appeared over the Mediterranean Sea after an absence of two years in this part of the world.

The Tu-142MKs departed from a base somewhere in the south of Russia for a return flight to the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. According to a Russian sources report, the bombers flew a long distance route via the Caspian Sea and further over Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Before arriving over the Mediterranean Sea, Russian Federation - Aerospace Forces (RF VKS) jet aircraft, tanker aircraft and an Airborne Warning & Control Station departed from Khmeimin air base (Syria) to join the exercise. According to the information, Sukhoi Su-35S air defence fighters escorted the Tu-142s, whilst two Ilyushin Il-78M tanker aircraft refueled the Tu-142MKs over the Mediterranean. These two tankers, reported to be from the 203rd Guards Orlovsky Independent Aircraft-refuelling Aviation Regiment (203 GvOAPSZ) at Ryazan/Dyagilevo were deployed to Khmeimin air base a few days before the exercise.

This is the first time the Il-78M tanker aircraft were deployed to a warzone airfield.

An unknown number of Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 and Sukhoi Su-34 were used to intercept the "intruding" bombers. The Ilyushin A-50U AWACS directed the interceptors to the Bears.

According to our Russian Navy Air Order of Battle, the Russian Navy operates the Tu-142 from two naval bases; the 403rd OSAP (Northern Fleet) at Kipelovo/Fedotovo and the 7062nd AvB MA (Pacific Fleet) at Sovetskaya Gavan/Kamenny Ruchey. Most probably, the two aircraft were temporary deployed to an air base in the south of Russia.

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 Photos (just illustrative): Igor Dvurekov, Alex Beltyukov, Cheh and Artem Pankiv, all kindly provided by RussianPlanes.net