Its nuclear weapons are ready to go. Here's What You Need to Remember: Despite the age of the bomber, it can still fly great distances and this year has made regular flights near American waters. While this most recent flight by the pair of Tu-95MS aircraft was closer to home, the bombers had been making patrol flights near the waters of Alaska. The Cold War-era Russian Tupolev Tu-95MS strategic missile-carrying bombers of Russia's Aerospace Force (Air Force) continue to log the miles. Last week a pair of the upgraded bombers performed a scheduled flight over the neutral waters of the Sea of Japan and the north-western Pacific, according to reports from the Russian Defense Ministry.