Two US B-52s flew over disputed area of South China Sea, ignoring China's instructions for prior warning

[mota bhai 2,675]

Two US B-52 bombers are reported to have flown over an area of the East China Sea inside China's expanded "air defence zone" without notifying China.

...

"Last night we conducted a training exercise that was long-planned. It involved two aircraft flying from Guam and returning to Guam," said Colonel Steven Warren, a spokesman for the department.

No flight plan was submitted beforehand to the Chinese and the mission went ahead "without incident".

...

An anonymous official told the AFP news agency that the planes were B-52 bombers - the largest aircraft in the US military's arsenal.

...

Under the rules declared by China, aircraft are expected to provide a flight plan, clearly mark their nationality and maintain two-way radio communication to allow them to respond to identification inquiries from Chinese authorities.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2013/11/us-planes-defy-china-air-defence-zone-201311261864900191.html

Edited November 26, 2013 by mota bhai

[luckytxn 2,265]

China crapped their pants.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Two US B-52 bombers are reported to have flown over an area of the East China Sea inside China's expanded "air defence zone" without notifying China.

...

"Last night we conducted a training exercise that was long-planned. It involved two aircraft flying from Guam and returning to Guam," said Colonel Steven Warren, a spokesman for the department.

No flight plan was submitted beforehand to the Chinese and the mission went ahead "without incident".

...

An anonymous official told the AFP news agency that the planes were B-52 bombers - the largest aircraft in the US military's arsenal.

...

Under the rules declared by China, aircraft are expected to provide a flight plan, clearly mark their nationality and maintain two-way radio communication to allow them to respond to identification inquiries from Chinese authorities.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia-pacific/2013/11/us-planes-defy-china-air-defence-zone-201311261864900191.html

B-52 isnot the largestplane in the Military

I know it does not matter, the press always gets details wrong

[GandD 5,966]

I don't think China is afraid of the B-52. Its not exactly hard to see, catch, or shoot down.

[ready4ONE 5,400]

B-52 isnot the largestplane in the Military

I know it does not matter, the press always gets details wrong

If you include the word 'arsenal' per the OP, the statement stands. Cargo aircraft are not really considered arsenal to my knowledge.

Think Obama asked Putin if the flight was okay?

[Pooky 3,840]

I don't think China is afraid of the B-52. Its not exactly hard to see, catch, or shoot down.

I don't think the B-52s are the whole story.

If I'm not mistaken, the USAF has a detachment of F-22 Raptors stationed at Kadena, on Okinawa. You won't hear about it, but I doubt the heavies were alone. Chinese radar isn't good enough to spot them, but just the suspicion of them being around is likely to give the PLAAF the creeps. The PLAAF's top line air-to-air assets are basically Su-27 Flankers, which are no match for a Raptor up close, and little more than bird food in a BVR engagement.

As power projection goes, this was a quick response to China's arrogance, and a pretty humiliating nose-thumbing at Beijing.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

I don't think China is afraid of the B-52. Its not exactly hard to see, catch, or shoot down.

I'm trying to think of a plane that could do more damage than a B-52 left alone with its possible ordinance.

Edited November 27, 2013 by OnMyWayID

[mota bhai 2,675]

As power projection goes, this was a quick response to China's arrogance, and a pretty humiliating nose-thumbing at Beijing.

How is it possible the ChiComs didn't see this coming?

[GandD 5,966]

I'm trying to think of a plane that could do more damage than a B-52 left alone to its possible ordinance.

Yes, I'm aware of its ordinance capability. Hardly the plane you want to use in a preemptive bombing run on the PRoC. Obviously, its not the first to go in. Plus they'd easily shoot it down easily.

[mota bhai 2,675]

... they'd easily shoot it down easily.

So that's twice as easy?

[GandD 5,966]

I don't think the B-52s are the whole story.

If I'm not mistaken, the USAF has a detachment of F-22 Raptors stationed at Kadena, on Okinawa. You won't hear about it, but I doubt the heavies were alone. Chinese radar isn't good enough to spot them, but just the suspicion of them being around is likely to give the PLAAF the creeps. The PLAAF's top line air-to-air assets are basically Su-27 Flankers, which are no match for a Raptor up close, and little more than bird food in a BVR engagement.

As power projection goes, this was a quick response to China's arrogance, and a pretty humiliating nose-thumbing at Beijing.

Maybe. Its certainly a possibility but there's also good odds that it was miscommunication or something more innocent. But I suppose flying an undetectable aircraft over the enemy doesn't exactly show them anything so you may be on to something.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

Yes, I'm aware of its ordinance capability. Hardly the plane you want to use in a preemptive bombing run on the PRoC. Obviously, its not the first to go in. Plus they'd easily shoot it down easily.

But they didn't shoot it down... and there it was in the disputed space. What plane could they have seen that would make them upset when two B-52s were nothing to be concerned about?

Well one just came to mind... A spy plane with high resolution cameras.

[GandD 5,966]

So that's twice as easy?

Rats. I guess I've lost all credibility.

Well...............

But they didn't shoot it down... and there it was in the disputed space. What plane could they have seen that would make them upset when two B-52s were nothing to be concerned about?

Well one just came to mind... A spy plane with high resolution cameras.

You think we would shoot down a Chinese bomber that crossed into our airspace in the same scenario?

[Pooky 3,840]

Maybe. Its certainly a possibility but there's also good odds that it was miscommunication or something more innocent. But I suppose flying an undetectable aircraft over the enemy doesn't exactly show them anything so you may be on to something.

The B-52s were there to be obvious. No way the Chinese could miss them.

The F-22s would not be there to be noticed. The first the PLAAF would have known about Raptors in the vicinity would be when the assets they sent up to intercept the B-52s found themselves in an active radar lock. From that point on, it becomes a real-life game of chicken.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

You think we would shoot down a Chinese bomber that crossed into our airspace in the same scenario?

I'm guessing we would do the same thing we do when Russian bombers test our airspace.. Send a couple of fighter planes to escort their clearly lost plane back to international airspace. We certainly would *not* do what they did: nothing..