The Canadian Air Force has intercepted two Russian strategic bombers that entered Canadian airspace while patrolling over the Atlantic Ocean.
Canada sent two F-18 jets from the Bagotville Air Force Base in Quebec after identifying two Russian Tu-95 Bears in the country’s buffer zone, according to RIA Novosti.
Canadian Defence Minister Peter MacKay said that the Russian planes did not enter Canada’s sovereign airspace, but it entered the 300nm zone within the country.
The Canadian F-18 pilots made contact with the Tu-95 pilots and forced them to turn north-east out of Canadian airspace.
Russia resumed strategic bomber patrol flights over the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans in August 2007, following an order from President Vladimir Putin.
The Russian Air Force carries out regular patrols performed by Tu-95 Bear, Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers and Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers.
