Pentagon Denies Russian Bombers Flew Over Guam

Russian bombers did not fly near Guam or close enough to any U.S. ships to prompt American aircraft to react.

Russian bombers did not fly near Guam or close enough to any U.S. ships to prompt American aircraft to react, the Pentagon said on Friday, dismissing a Russian statement that bombers flew over the U.S. territory.

According to Pentagon officials, two Russian aircraft were detected on Wednesday flying south toward the Pacific island. But they did not come close enough for U.S. aircraft to intercept the flights.

"U.S. forces were prepared to intercept the bombers but they never came close enough to a U.S. Navy ship or to Guam to warrant an air-to-air intercept," said Lt. Cmdr. Chito Peppler, a Pentagon spokesman.

Another defense official said the Russian bombers were about 305 miles (490 km) from Guam and about 100 miles (160 km) from any U.S. aircraft, which were flying as part of a training exercise in the area.

That countered comments from the head of long-range aviation in the Russian air force, Major-General Pavel Androsov, that the Russian military had resumed Cold War-style long-haul missions to areas patrolled by the United States.

Androsov said a Russian strategic bomber flew over the U.S. naval base at Guam. He said U.S. pilots were scrambled to track the Russian aircraft, and that the Russian and American pilots "exchanged smiles."

His comments come amid strained relations between Washington and Moscow, caused in part by U.S. plans to put missile defense units in former Soviet-allied territory.