Russia's TU-160 strategic and supersonic bombers conducted training with Sukhoi SU-27SM fighter jets over the Black Sea last April 16.
The training, according to the press service of the Southern Military District, would be a background to NATO's Sea Shield-2019 exercise.
“Fighter fighters from the 4th Air Force and Air Defense Army of the Southern Military District escorted Tupolev-160 strategic bombers and practiced intercepting air targets”, said the press service of the Air Force of Russia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOpgXIoY4V8
“Training continued against NATO naval exercise Sea Shield – 2019, which provided a good track record for Black Sea Fleet and Air Force and Air Defense units to practice combat tasks under real conditions”, said the press service.
The SU-27SM fighters, as soon as they took off from an air base located in Crimea, went to meet the TU-160 bombers, fulfilling a defensive position alongside the large bombers.
It makes sense that the Russians carried out this training right around the time that the Sea Shield exercise was carried out, as a possible response to the participants, mainly the US.
NATO's Sea Shield 2019 exercise, which also took place in the Black Sea, saw the participation of several naval ships and aircraft from the United States, Bulgaria, Greece, Canada, the Netherlands, Romania and Turkey, as well as military representatives from Georgia and Ukraine.
