Russia’s supersonic long-range bombers have been deployed on an exercise mission to the Far Eastern region of Chukotka for the first time, the Defense Ministry has said.

The Tu-160 is a strategic bomber, carrying 12 long range cruise missiles, which can hit targets over a distance of 2,000 kilometers. Russia rebooted production of the plane as it stepped up military spending and bomber patrols near foreign borders amid regional tensions.