During the takeoff of the Tu-160 strategic missile carriers from the Engels airbase in Saratov, our photojournalist managed to capture an amazing fireball
The missile carriers took off as part of large-scale exercises in the Yamal region. Bombers must hit a simulated enemy with combat cruise missiles. At the moment of acceleration and lift-off of the bomber from the ground, a flickering ball, filled with iridescent light, steadily followed him.
- I could see all this already in the editorial office, - Artem Mitrofanov is surprised, - after all, nothing could be seen with the naked eye. And when he began to view the photos on a computer, he was simply shocked. I thought it might be a glare. But when I looked more closely, I realized that there was no such flare, the ball moved chaotically and even left a small trail behind it. This was the first time I managed to photograph this. But the ball is absent on the video, therefore it is not clear why the fire is only in the photo. I do not get it.
The pilots themselves assure that this never happened at the air base. Moreover, the radars did not detect suspicious objects on the territory of the airfield.
Meanwhile, the Air Force long-range aviation exercises of this scale are being held this year for the first time. The missile carriers stationed at the Engels airbase will have a long flight to the Pemboy training ground in the Komi Republic, where they will launch combat missiles.
The exercises also involve Tu-95MS strategic missile carriers and Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers. During the flights, the aircraft will refuel in the air with the help of Il-78 refueling aircraft.
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In addition to the Engels pilots, the Far Eastern and Siberian Air Force units, as well as the Lipetsk center for combat use and retraining of flight personnel, take part in the exercises.
In addition, A-50, MiG-29, MiG-31 and Su-27SM aircraft will be involved in the exercise. In total, crews of about 40 aircraft will undergo combat readiness testing. The Engels pilots must return from their combat mission tonight.
Our correspondent is going to meet the missile carriers that have fired off and will try to capture new unidentified flying objects, if, of course, they honor the airfield with their presence.