Russian military shows off its elite aerobatic flying teams
KUBINKA AIR BASE, Russia – The Russian military’s elite aerobatic squadrons have marked their 25-year jubilee with an air show outside Moscow.
The Strizhi (the Swifts) aerobatic team flying MiG-29 jets and the Russkiye Vityazi (the Russian Knights) operating the heavier Su-27 fighters performed Saturday before enthusiastic crowds at their home base west of the Russian capital.
The show included spectacular low passes and synchronous manoeuvrs showing off the jets’ high thrust and manoeuvrability. The show culminated in a joint stunt with both teams flying together in one tight formation.
Russia’s air and space forces chief, Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev, said both aerobatic teams will soon re-equip to new jets capable of even more stunning aerobatics. Amid tensions with the West, the Kremlin has pushed forward a massive arms modernization program despite Russia’s economic problems.
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