MOSCOW - The U.S. military's Cold War workhorse, the B-52 bomber, landed on Russian soil for the first time Wednesday for the Moscow International Air Show.

The bomber, which served as one arm of the U.S. nuclear deterrent force during the Cold War, touched down at the once top-secret Zhukovsky airfield, where the Soviet Union used to test its military aircraft.

The B-52 joined F-15 and F-16 fighters, which are also among the U.S. military planes participating in the 11-year-old air show for the first time, amid warming ties between the former Cold War foes.

The air show, which ends Sunday, boasts more than 500 participants, including firms from countries such as the United States, France, Britain, China and Chile.

The airfield's vast hangars, once used to hide up-to-date Soviet technology from prying U.S. spy satellites, are filled with Russian and foreign exhibitors. Sleek fighters and menacing helicopter gunships line the concrete runways.

Russian officials created the biennial air show in 1992 to show off their aviation prowess and give foreign shoppers - particularly foreign militaries - a close look at Russian-made crafts. This year, Russia's Space Forces are also participating for the first time, promoting their commercial rocket technology.

Out of all of Russia's aviation firms, Sukhoi, maker of world-renowned Sukhoi fighters, made the most successful transition after heavy government subsidies dried up with the collapse of the Soviet Union. It has attracted buyers from China, India and Malaysia.

The Russian military, however, has received only a handful of new crafts due to persistent cash shortages. Russian Air Force chief Vladimir Mikhailov was quoted as telling the Interfax Military News Agency that the air force will continue to focus on upgrading its existing fleet, which dates back to 1986.

Upgrades should keep the fleet operational for another 30 to 40 years, Mikhailov said. Citing the American B-52, which celebrated its 50th birthday last year, Mikhailov noted that even after all this time "it flies and accomplishes combat missions."

The Russian air force will be getting a few new additions when it takes delivery of five Su-27 fighters this year, he said, noting that while their bodies are 10 years old, the jets are fitted with state-of-the-art equipment. Mikhailov insisted that the planes were as good as the new Su-30 fighters bought by the Chinese and Indian air forces, Interfax said.

Russia's commercial aviation industry, meanwhile, has struggled, with many Russian airlines preferring to buy Boeing or Airbus planes.

Wednesday's show was expected to focus on the Tupolev firm, creator of the Tu-160 strategic bomber, the main Cold War rival to the B-52.

Tupolev director Igor Shevchuk told the ITAR-Tass news agency that his company would also be showing off the Tu-204, which became the first success story of this year's show. Russian airline Transaero reached a US$200 million deal Tuesday to lease 10 of the planes.

The Kamov helicopter producer will also present a new Ka-226 model, which can be converted into an ambulance, firefighting, cargo or passenger helicopter.