Russian bombers did not fly near Guam or close enough to any US ships to prompt American aircraft to react, the Pentagon said yesterday, dismissing a Russian statement that bombers flew over the US 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 US aircraft to intercept the flights.

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

Another defence official said the Russian bombers were about 490 km from Guam and about 160 km from any US 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 US.

Major-General Androsov said a Russian strategic bomber flew over the US naval base at Guam. He said US 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 US plans to put missile defence units in former Soviet-allied territory.