As the Novorossiysk approached the islands, about 700 miles east of Japan, Soviet Bear bombers flew reconnaissance missions near the battle group and helped vector some 20 Backfire bombers to their targets, practising the Soviet strategy of bomber launched anti-ship missile warfare.
Soviet Union | Soviet Navy | aircraft | Fighter aircraft | Soviet Army | aircraft carrier | Communist Party of the Soviet Union | Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic | Homebuilt aircraft | Sikorsky Aircraft | Consolidated Aircraft | Soviet war in Afghanistan | Gloster Aircraft Company | United Kingdom military aircraft serials | Royal Aircraft Establishment | Douglas Aircraft Company | Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union | Aircraft registration | fighter aircraft | Carrier Corporation | Soviet Union national football team | carrier | Soviet Air Forces | Carrier | Anti-aircraft warfare | Post-Soviet states | Jet aircraft | Hughes Aircraft Company | Hero of the Soviet Union | Fixed-wing aircraft |