MOSCOW. May 27 (Interfax) - Russian Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, which relocated to the Hmeimim airbase in Syria on Monday, have performed flights over the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, which recently arrived at the Russian airbase Hmeimim in the Syrian Arab Republic, performed training flights over the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea in the company of Russian [Sukhoi] Su-35 fighter jets," the Defense Ministry said.
"The crews of the Tu-22M3 long-range bombers practiced flying over new geographical regions," the ministry said.
Following their training mission over the Mediterranean Sea, the bombers will return to their bases in Russia, it said.
As reported earlier, three Tu-22M3 planes arrived in Syria.
The military said earlier it was the first deployment of aircraft of the kind to the Hmeimim airbase, which had become possible owing to the renovation of the second runway where the coating was fully replaced and new lighting and radio-technical equipment was installed. The runway became longer to broaden the airfield's capacity for receiving and serving various classes of aircraft.
Tu-22M3 (NATO code name Backfire) is a long-range supersonic bomber built to destroy seaborne and ground-based targets with guided missiles and aerial bombs on a range of up to 2,200 kilometers from base. It is also capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
Tu-22M3 planes have taken part in the Syria campaign, as well as in the hostilities in Afghanistan and, partially, in the antiterrorist operation in the North Caucasus and the peace enforcement operation against Georgia.