Russian nuclear bombers land in Africa as Putin hosts continent's leaders

[TomSea]

Russian nuclear bombers land in Africa as Putin hosts continent's leaders
    By  morgan winsor

LONDON — Oct 24, 2019,

 Russia landed the world's heaviest bomber in South Africa on Wednesday in a rare show of military cooperation between the two nations, as Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted African leaders at an economic forum.

Two Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers, which are supersonic Soviet-era aircraft capable of launching nuclear missiles, touched down at a South African Air Force base on the outskirts of the capital, Pretoria. It was said to be the first time that Tu-160 bombers have ever landed on the African continent.

The Russian warplanes were escorted on arrival by two fighter jets of the South African Air Force, according to a statement from the South African National Defense Forces, which noted the "strong historical links with diplomatic relations" between Russia and South Africa.

Read more at: https://abcnews.go.com/International/russian-nuclear-bombers-land-africa-putin-hosts-continents/story?id=66492746