MOSCOW, November 5 (AVN) - It the first two of the 11 Tu-160 and Tu-95MS strategic bombers which Ukraine submits as compensation for its gas debt do not arrive in Engels air force base in the central Russia Saratov region on Friday, it may cause a big scandal, a source in the Air Force staff told the Military News Agency.
The planes had to arrive in Engels on Wednesday, but because of the bureaucracy problems in Ukraine their start was one day postponed.
On Thursday pilots waited in the planes six hours but did not receive a permission to fly: customs service did not do all necessary formalities. Russian Air Force Commander Gen Anatoly Kornukov said in the interview to the Military News Agency that he is not intended to see any political reasons in this incident. It is just bureaucracy problem, he added.
A new regiment is to be formed in Engels on the basis of the Tu-160 planes from Ukraine, while three Tu-95MS are to enter the already existing regiment, Kornukov says.
Receiving from Ukraine 11 strategic bombers and 575 winged missiles Russia does not step out of the START-2 strategic missile limitation treaty.