Russian President Vladimir Putin boarded a bomber that successfully fired new high-precision, long-range cruise missiles, the Moscow Times reported. Putin was in the commander’s chair of a Tu-160 bomber that broke the sound barrier and tested its missiles. He said Tuesday’s flight was a dream come true. “I must say that it is a very pleasant feeling,” Putin said in a TV interview. “I think it is similar to how you fly in a dream.” An accompanying Tu-160 also tested its missiles, tests the Russian president pronounced a success. Putin’s flight came as Russia ramped up its war games, which run through September. On Thursday, Russia and China are to take part in an unprecedented Far East exercise that the U.S. State Department said it hoped would strengthen the region’s stability. © Copyright 2005 by United Press International

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