In response to threats from the US Navy, Russia announced the start of patrolling the Arctic with its Tu-142 anti-submarine aircraft.

After the American military command announced that it plans to significantly increase its presence in the Arctic in the near future to demonstrate the strength of Russia, the command of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy made a statement that it would begin to patrol the Arctic and Atlantic space using its long-range anti-submarine aircraft Tu-142.

"Crews of Tu-142 long-range anti-submarine aircraft of the Air Force and Air Defense Association of the Northern Fleet will continue their practice of long-term flights in the operationally important areas of the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans", - said the press service of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy.

According to the Russian Navy command, last year anti-submarine aircraft carried out at least 20 patrol missions, solving tasks in the international airspace over the Arctic and Atlantic, and, thereby, demonstrating their readiness to protect the territorial waters of Russia and the waters of the Northern Sea Route.