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View Full Version : Us Fighters Scramble to Intercept Russian Bombers


Ontariotech
9th Aug 2007, 14:13
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6938856.stm

visibility3miles
10th Aug 2007, 01:06
Russia sparks Cold War scramble

Russian bombers have flown to the US Pacific island of Guam in a manoeuvre reminiscent of the Cold War era.

Two Tu-95 turboprops flew this week to Guam, home to a big US military base, Russian Maj Gen Pavel Androsov said, a story confirmed by the US.

They "exchanged smiles" with US pilots who scrambled to track them, he added.

etc.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6938856.stm

scopey
10th Aug 2007, 12:24
"We prepared to intercept the bombers but they did not come close enough to a US Navy ship or to the island of Guam to warrant an air-to-air intercept,"

"I think the result was good. We met our colleagues - fighter jet pilots from [US] aircraft carriers. We exchanged smiles and returned home,"

Erm...? Do the Yanks have a different definition of intercept to us?

nunquamparatus
11th Aug 2007, 02:19
I expect the words "same" had been uttered some hundred miles previously so Mr AMRAAM was ready to do the intercept for them. Does beg the question what our friends from up north are up to.

Al R
12th Aug 2007, 07:44
It hardly looks reassuring.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6942646.stm

At the risk of being girly and jumping the gun, I wonder if we even have plans and/or the capability to properly defend our airspace in the short/medium term anyway?

moggiee
13th Aug 2007, 13:03
Given the fact that the Yanks seem hell bent on ripping up treaties such as those ABM systems, along with sighting ABM systems in Europe (contravening said treaty), one can hardly blame the Russian airforce for upgrading radar systems and pumping up the tyres and changing the oil on their strategic bomber force.

Perhaps a revitalised military will give the world's remaining "superpower" cause to stop and think before going all Hollywood on us and invading anyone who looks at them in a funny way.