Russian bombers intercepted off of West Coast

[kytwell 179]

http://www.newsroomamerica.com/story/260576/russian_bomber_intrusion_near_west_coast_second_time_in_as_many_weeks:_report.html

Russian nuclear-capable bombers were intercepted near the U.S. west coast for the second time in as many weeks over the July 4th holiday, a report said Friday.

The Washington Free Beacon reported that the intruding planes were again met by U.S. air defense fighters, and that the Russian planes came close to the Pacific coast 12-mile exclusion zone but did not cross it.

The earlier intrusion off the coast of Alaska by two Tu-95 Bear H bombers took place during Arctic war games that a Russian military spokesman said involved simulated attacks on "enemy" air defenses and strategic targets.

"The bomber flights near the Pacific and earlier flights near Alaska appear to be signs Moscow is practicing the targeting of its long-range air-launched cruise missiles on two strategic missile defense sites, one at Fort Greely, Alaska and a second site at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.," the Free Beacon reported.

The drills, along with comments made recently by Russian military commanders, sound an ominous tone, some defense analysts believe.

In May, Russian Gen. Nikolai Makarov, the chief of the Russian General Staff, said during a conference in Moscow that because missile defense systems were destabilizing, "A decision on pre-emptive use of the attack weapons available will be made when the situation worsens."

The comment served as a backdrop against Russian opposition to a planned U.S. missile defense shield in eastern Europe, which Moscow opposes. The U.S. and participating European nations say the shield is aimed at intercepting potential long-range nuclear launches by Iran.

The Beacon quoted an unnamed senior defense official as describing the most recent Russian bomber incursion as "(Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s Fourth of July Bear greeting to Obama."

Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas McInerney, a former Alaska commander for the North American Aerospace Defense Command, told the publication the incursions appear to be aimed testing U.S. resolve.

"It’s becoming very obvious that Putin is testing Obama and his national security team,” McInerney told the publication. "These long-range aviation excursions are duplicating exercises I experienced during the height of the Cold War when I command the Alaska NORAD region."

He added: "These are not good indications of future U.S. Russian relations."

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

[Ban Hammer 13,554]

two Tu-95 Bear H bombers

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Russian Gen. Nikolai Makarov, the chief of the Russian General Staff,

Makarov? Them Russians don't mess around. They have a chief of staff named after their hand guns.

[JohnR! 5,495]

1341852014[/url]' post='5512067']

two Tu-95 Bear H bombers

They're not kidding. The send BOTH Tu-95!!! They mean business!!!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

They're not kidding. The send BOTH Tu-95!!! They mean business!!!

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

We used to have Russian bear cat bombers enter our air space here on a daily basis back in the 70's and 80's. They would test to see how long it took our fighters from Anchorage, Adak, and Sheyma Islands to respond to them. It got so common that the pilots recognized each other by site. The thing is that now we don't have those fighters on the Aleutians these days. Adak is shut down and Shemya is stictly a radar site these days.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

I could hear them from California.

I always wondered what happens if fighters "accidentally" shoot them down, Syria seems to get away with it...

Edited July 9, 2012 by Sousuke

[Ban Hammer 13,554]

We used to have Russian bear cat bombers enter our air space here on a daily basis back in the 70's and 80's. They would test to see how long it took our fighters from Anchorage, Adak, and Sheyma Islands to respond to them. It got so common that the pilots recognized each other by site. The thing is that now we don't have those fighters on the Aleutians these days. Adak is shut down and Shemya is stictly a radar site these days.

the only "bear cat" i'm aware of was a ww2 us plane, and it was a fighter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F8F_Bearcat

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I could hear them from California.

I always wondered what happens if fighters "accidentally" shoot them down, Syria seems to get away with it...

I'm guessing our pilots have strict orders about not firing on the Ruskies. On a side not when I was working at Shemya the Boeing radar guys showed me the screen that shows our subs on the Russian coast and it looked like we had twice as many of our subs in their waters than they do. Of course I wouldn't be surprised at all if it's the same with their subs in our waters. We have a few Russian nuke subs at the bottom of Alaskan waters and as far as we know they could still be leaking radio active material. Russian subs are pretty much rust bucket death traps.

Edited July 9, 2012 by Bad_Daddy

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

the only "bear cat" i'm aware of was a ww2 us plane, and it was a fighter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F8F_Bearcat

Was that a Hellcat replacement?

I'm guessing our pilots have strict orders about not firing on the Ruskies. On a side not when I was working at Shemya the Boeing radar guys showed me the screen that shows our subs on the Russian coast and it looked like we had twice as many of our subs in their waters than they do. Of course I wouldn't be surprised at all if it's the same with their subs in our waters. We have a few Russian nuke subs at the bottom of Alaskan waters and as far as we know they could still be leaking radio active material. Russian subs are pretty much rust bucket death traps.

During the cold war both sides lost pilots. They will probably never confirm who was shot down and who had mechanical failures.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

the only "bear cat" i'm aware of was a ww2 us plane, and it was a fighter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F8F_Bearcat

It's also known as a TU-95 if your going to call it by it's official name.

[Ban Hammer 13,554]

It's also known as a TU-95 if your going to call it by it's official name.

done earlier.

two Tu-95 Bear H bombers

Was that a Hellcat replacement?

yes

[JohnR! 5,495]

They might be spying on Sarah, as she keeps watch over the vast border with Russia from her front porch... :rofl:

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

If the Ruskies are shaking the cobwebs out of their old aircraft, I might have to dust off my old uniforms. Do they still train the Army how to fight commies, or is everything geared toward nation building in third world countries?