Russia plans live-fire bombing drills

MOSCOW, Aug. 1 (UPI) -- The Russian Air Force plans to hold live-fire drills next week for its strategic bombers, military officials said Friday.

The plane to be used in the drill is the Tu-22M3 Backfire-C, a supersonic bomber used mainly on the southern border in Central Asia and over the Black Sea. The drills will be held from Aug. 4 to Aug. 8, the Novosti news agency reported.

"During the exercises the crews will practice simulated bomber runs at testing grounds in the Novgorod and the Saratov regions," Lt. Col. Vladimir Drik said.

The air force has 141 TU-22M3 bombers. They have a range of 4,300 miles and can carry a payload of more than 50,000 pounds, including nuclear bombs and Cruise missiles.