Article Posted on : - Jan 13, 2011

Tu-95 Bear strategic bomber

MOSCOW (BNS): The Tu-95 Bear strategic bombers will take to the skies again with the Russian Air Force lifting ban after the aircraft was grounded last year, a media report said.

The Russian Air Force had grounded the Tu-95s after An-22 Cock transport plane was destroyed in a crash last December.

Both the Tu-95s and An-22s share the Kuznetsov NK-12 turboprop, whose failure was suspected as the main cause of the crash.

All twelve crews on board were killed when the plane crashed in the Tula Region on December 28.

The An-22 is the largest turboprop-powered aircraft in the world. Around 45 remain in service with the Russian Air Force and most are over 40 years old, Ria Novosti said.