Wonder how many will make it back...
POE!
“Wonder how many will make it back...”
Good question.
I wonder how many of them were those old prop job Bears. Now, those are a REAL demonstration of power. Fifty year old planes are scary for sure...
The truth is Russia can’t project power from one border of the country to the other much less externally.
Take into consideration that they probably spent an entire month preparing these planes and spent a ton of money to make them flyable. As for certifications and capable pilots...they probably just found a bunch of retired pilots...gave them some booze and walked right back into the cockpit to fly. The truth is...if they wanted to maintain a regular schedule and sustain some kind of image...they have to manufacture and put out new fighters and bombers as soon as possible. The amusing thing...is that the west as they buy natural gas and oil from Siberia...are helping to restore the Russian military.