CHEBARKUL , Russia ( Reuters ) -- President Vladimir Putin said on Friday security threats had forced Russia to revive the Soviet-era practice of sending bomber aircraft on regular patrols beyond its borders . A Russian strategic bomber flies over an airfield outside Moscow during an air show . Putin said 14 strategic bombers had taken off simultaneously from airfields across Russia in the early hours of Friday on long-range missions . `` We have decided to restore flights by Russian strategic aviation on a permanent basis , '' Putin told reporters after inspecting joint military exercises with China and four Central Asian states in Russia 's Ural mountains . `` Today , August 17 at 00:00 hours , 14 strategic bombers took to the air from seven airfields across the country , along with support and refueling aircraft ... From today such patrols will be carried out on a regular basis . `` We hope our partners will treat this with understanding . '' At U.S. President George W. Bush 's Texas ranch , White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said he did not believe the flights posed a threat to the United States . `` Militaries around the world engage in a variety of activities , so this is not entirely surprising , '' he said . But the sorties are likely to add to Western concern about Russia 's growing assertiveness . That trend has prompted some U.S. policymakers to draw parallels with the Cold War . Putin caused a stir this year by saying Russian missiles would once again be aimed at targets in Europe if Washington persisted with plans to build a missile defense shield in eastern Europe . Russian diplomats have clashed with the United States and European governments on issues such as Kosovo , energy , and Moscow 's treatment of its ex-Soviet neighbors . Western military leaders have said this year that Russian flights near their airspace were becoming more frequent after a long quiet period . One Western defense official called the flights `` a little bit of chest-pounding , trying to let people know Russia is back in the game '' . Putin said that when Russia had cut its flights in 1992 , other military powers had not reciprocated . `` Flights by other countries ' strategic aircraft continue and this creates certain problems for ensuring the security of the Russian Federation , '' Putin said . That appeared to be a swipe at the U.S. and NATO , whose strategic bombers have continued to fly long-range missions . As Putin spoke to reporters and television cameras , four Russian military helicopters appeared and hovered in the background while Russian tanks trundled behind him , even though the exercises had ended long before . During the Cold War , Russian long-range bombers , which can carry strategic nuclear weapons , played elaborate games of cat-and-mouse with Western air forces . Earlier this month Russian air force generals said bomber crews had flown near the Pacific island of Guam , where the U.S. military has a base , and `` exchanged smiles '' with U.S. pilots scrambled to track them . The Pentagon said the Russian aircraft had not come close enough to U.S. ships to prompt American aircraft to react . In July , two Russian Tu-95 `` Bear '' bombers made unusually long sorties over the North Sea , leading Norway and Britain to scramble fighter jets to follow them . Russia 's air force said later it was a routine flight . E-mail to a friend . Copyright 2007 Reuters . All rights reserved.This material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed .
Russia to send bomber aircraft on long - range missions on a permanent basis . President Vladimir Putin said the move was in response to security threats . The White House says the flights do not pose a threat to the United States .