Russia flexes muscles,resumes Cold War-era bomber patrols

8220;Fourteen strategic missile carriers, support planes and tanker planes took off from seven Russian airfields in various parts of the country at 00:00 Moscow time on August 17. Combat alert has begun,8221; Putin announced.

He said the move to resume the flights permanently after a gap of 15 years, was in response to unprecedented security threats to Russia by other military powers.

8220;Since 1992, the Russian Federation unilaterally stopped flights of its strategic aviation in remote combat areas. Unfortunately, our example was not followed by all of the countries,8221; Putin said, stressing flights by other countries8217; strategic planes continued, creating certain problems for 8220;ensuring Russia8217;s security.8221;

In Washington, US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack played down the significance of Russia8217;s move. 8220;We certainly are not in the kind of posture we were with what used to be the Soviet Union,8221; McCormach said in media reports.

8220;If Russia feels as though they want to take some of these old aircraft out of mothballs and get them flying again, that8217;s their decision,8221; he said.