MOSCOW. Feb 15 (Interfax) - Russia's MiG-31K fighter jets carrying Kinzhal hypersonic missiles and Tupolev Tu-22M3 long-range bombers have been deployed to the Hmeimim airbase in Syria for a Russian naval exercise in the Mediterranean, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"Tu-22M3 long-range bombers and MiG-31K armed with Kinzhal systems have been deployed to the Hmeimim airbase in Syria for an exercise of the Navy's taskforce in the Eastern Mediterranean," the ministry said.
Foreign media outlets said that NATO carrier strike groups comprising the U.S. Navy's USS Harry Truman, the French Navy's Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, the Italian Navy's Conte di Cavour aircraft carrier, attack ships and supply vessels would be monitoring the Russian naval exercise in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Russian Aerospace Forces' planes covered distances of over 1,500 kilometers from their bases, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
"Long-Range Aviation pilots will accomplish missions in the course of the exercise," it said.