a couple of russian tu 160 long-range aircraft, we re talking about strategic supersonic nuclear capable bombers arrived in venezuela. the large aircraft are known as white swans to their russian pilots. nato called them blackjack bombers. venezuela as you may know is flat lining a rolling human rights disaster. its economy and social services are in free fall. while likely unarmed the russian bombers flew around on missions over the caribbean. they were supported by other aircraft during their stay at an airfield outside of caracas. they are now said to be on route back home. russia and venezuela have had a military relationship for years. the u.s. doesn t really fear the establishment of a russian air base in venezuela. but the u.s. did push back hard against this show of russian
nuclear-capable bombers that can fly at twice the speed of sound. it is a bold move out of the cold war as the russian president tries to establish a military foothold near american shores. a russian bomber with an impressive wing span touches down at america s doorstep. the tu-160 has to deploy parachutes to slow down. russian pilots, decked out in helmets and orange jump suits, climb out to a hero s welcome. two of these bombers, nicknamed blackjacks, are in venezuela tonight. vladimir putin has deployed these war planes along with two support aircraft to conduct exercises over the caribbean with venezuelan forces, a worrisome development for washington considering the capability of the russian bombers which can fly twice the speed of sound. this bomber was designed to do both high-altitude and low-altitude penetration of airspace with nuclear weapons, to deliver nuclear weapons on target. this aircraft was designed to be an offensive-capable weapon to get into our airspace during