A former US air force general says it is very unlikely that Russian bombers carry any nuclear weapons close to US shores, although it is impossible for outsiders to tell if any nuclear bombs are aboard.

David Deptula, a retired general, told the TIME magazine that it is good news for the Americans that Russia’s Tu-95 Bear bombers recently keep crashing and that the Russian air force would not risk the loss of its bomber with nuclear bombs on board.

“Risking the loss of a long-range bomber like a Tu-95 with a nuclear weapon on board is a pretty big risk,” said Deptula.

“It would be very imprudent to be carrying nuclear weapons on board a flight like that,” he added.

According to Air Force officials, the bomber would carry nuclear weapons inside its fuselage, making it impossible for outsiders to tell if there any are aboard.

The latest Russian flight took place July 4 off the central Californian coast. Two US F-15 jets intercepted the Russian bombers.

Unnamed officials claimed that a Russian crew member aboard one of the Tu-95s Bear Bombers said, “Good morning American pilots, we are here to greet you on your Fourth of July Independence Day.”

In similar flights on June 4, 2014, four long-range Russian Tu-95 Bear-H bombers, accompanied by an aerial refueling tanker, flew into the US Air Defense Identification Zone, according to US defense officials.The bombers were intercepted by US F-22 fighter jets.

Deptula, however, said the flights are Russian President Vladimir Putin’s way of asserting Russian might.

“He’s showing they still have a way to project power when and where they want to,” he said. “It reinforces the fact that they do have a capability to project power that not many nations do.”

On Tuesday, US Army General Mark Milley warned that Russia is the only country on earth that could destroy the United States.

“Russia is the only country on earth that contains a nuclear capability that could destroy the United States,” said the general.