QRA Shadow Russian Bomber

[ORAC]

Nothing unusual in it, we used to do it hundreds of times a year; just slightly amusing it took the Russians to tell us...

British, Norwegian Fighters Shadow Russian Bombers
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published: 12 Dec

MOSCOW - Russian strategic bombers on patrol over the North Sea were shadowed by fighter jets from Britain and Norway, a Russian air force spokesman said Dec. 12.

"The Tu-160 crews were escorted by Norwegian air force F-16 and British Tornado fighters," Vladimir Drik, an aide to the top commander of the Russian air force, was quoted as saying by Interfax.

The incident occurred overnight Dec. 11-12 while the Russian Tu-60 bombers were conducting a 13-hour patrol over the North Sea, Drik said, describing it as a routine training flight above neutral waters.

Several similar incidents occurred in 2007 after President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia was resuming the Soviet-era practice of long-range strategic bomber patrols.

Known as "Blackjack" in NATO parlance, the Tu-160 is a heavy bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

[Lyneham Lad]

RAF Jets See Off Russian Bombers (http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/RAF-Jets-See-Off-Russian-Bombers-Mid-Air-Drama-Off-North-East-UK/Article/200812215179309?lpos=UK_News_Carousel_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15179309_RAF_Jets_See_Off_Russian_Bombers%3A_Mid-Air_Drama_Off_North_East_UK)

RAF Tornados were scrambled to intercept two Russian bombers as they threatened to enter UK airspace, it has emerged.

The British planes were part of a special "quick response" squadron scrambled from RAF Leuchars in Scotland.

An air-to-air refuelling tanker was also sent up in case the mission lasted longer.

The Russian Tu-160 Blackjack bombers were tracked on radar as they headed for the North East coast on Thursday night.

Norwegian F-16 fighters were also launched to tail the Russian "zombies".

The Tornadoes took off just before 10.30pm and tailed the bombers until about 1.30am on Friday.

Sky News understand the Russian aircraft crossed a section of airspace controlled by the UK, but the Ministry of Defence refused to confirm this or comment.

However, the MoD has confirmed the North Sea encounter.

A spokesman told Sky News Online: "Incursions into UK and Nato-monitored airspace from Russian aircraft have occurred on a number of occasions and these aircraft have been identified and tracked, usually before they arrive in UK and Nato airspace, by Nato partners."

A Russian air force spokesman said the bombers were on a "patrol mission".

Colonel Vladimir Drik said Russia resumed regular missions by strategic bombers over the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans last August, and that they posed no threat to other countries.

Russia always gave notice of upcoming patrols, he added.

In July 2007 RAF Tornadoes were scrambled to intercept Tupolev Tu-95 Bears as they threatened to enter UK airspace.

At the time, the MoD said such an encounter was "rare".

RAF Leuchars is home to two squadrons of RAF Tornado aircraft.

Both are part of the QRA (quick reaction alert) structure, first set up to combat the threat of possible Russian attacks during the Cold War.

We can sleep soundly tonight... :D

[Thelma Viaduct]

Why bother intercepting them?

If it was/when it's to go tits up, whether you intercept them or not will make no difference as to whether we'd get a perma-tan. "Ring the bell and dig a big F**k off hole".

Besides, it'd be quite funny to just let them crack on and see what they do.

As a side note, is it still PC to have the codename 'Blackjack'?

I've got a mate who's with the Met and they're not allowed to use the word 'Blackboard' any more. One of his buddies got sent out of the office & disciplined for it.

Just wondering, as it's far more interesting than the original post???

[taxydual]

The Russkies are just showing off, they've got something to brag about.

BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Russian crowned Miss World winner (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7781708.stm)







(Well Done, Moderators).

[Double Zero]

Perhaps more likely ' Tornados intercepted by Blackjacks ?! '

No disrepect for the aircrew involved; I doubt we'll ever know the tactical situation - if Ivan had said " we're coming " then I guess it's a case of who got the best intel & photo's !

[ORAC]

And only 9 hours late and unable to look further down the page....

QRA Shadow Russian Bomber (http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/354553-qra-shadow-russian-bomber.html) :hmm::hmm:

[racedo]

Sounds like a show us what you got mission from the Commies ooooops Demcoratic Russkis.

If they gonna do something like that can they bring some Caviar and Vodka and drop at a pre arranged spot.......least it will be worthwhile.

[green granite]

Why are Russian bombers flying down into the North Sea? Probing our response times?

Perhaps the CAS has slipped them a tenner or two. :cool:

[SirToppamHat]

Nostrinian Asked:
What is the nearest RAF base that QRAs for London?

It's here isn't it?:
RAF Bruntingthorpe - QRA South! (http://www.lightnings.org.uk/qra.htm)

STH

[TEEEJ]

Nostrinian wrote

Why are they doing it?

There is no air route for them out of the Baltic. It would require those nations to permit such overflights. Yes, they simply turn round and go back the way they came.

Why do they do it? The majority of the flights are conducted by Tu-95MS Bear H and Tu-160 Blackjacks. The Strategic Aviation is part of their nuclear triad and the Bears and Blackjacks are air-launched cruise missile carriers. That is their war-role. The Russians have invested money into their strategic assets and that includes pilot/aircrew training involving out of area flights/missions.

No doubt the crews conduct simulated ALCM missions against targets as part of their training. For example a simulated ALCM mission against say RAF Fylingdales. Think of it from the Russian perspective. If they just flew mirror missions within Russian airspace it would all get very boring and tedious for the aircrew. This year the Russian went as far as test-firing ALCMs from strategic bombers in the Atlantic off the Iberian Peninsula.

The USAF have also announced more emphasis on the nuclear strategic bomber mission with Global Strike Command. With this re-emphasis will Russia be seeing an increase of U.S. strategic bomber training flights near its airspace?

USAF Unveils Global Strike Command - Defense News (http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=3787270)

The Russians released data for 2007

Official Russian MoD data shows for 2007:
- more than 650 trackings of foreign military aircraft "close to national airspace"
- more than 120 intercepts
- 24 recorded border near-violations resulting in intercepts: 8 administrative violations (military transport that thought it was cleared but the respective administration failed to deliver the report to the Air Force), 7 near-violations or unintended violations (navigation failure, violation of air safety rules, direct course violations), 9 intended violations, 7 of them in the Far East.

For Russian QRA the NATO trade would be the likes of RC-135s, EP-3s, P-3s etc. No doubt the odd Nimrod R.1 has been in Barents or Baltic in recent years?!

[Double Zero]

Orac,

I normally agree 100% with what you say, but you failed to take my last post with a pinch of salt !

I am not all that too good at seeing into the future ( but PM me for next lottery winning numbers ) - I rather suspect they're on ELINT missions, probably to get more info' on the Typhoon - presuming it doesn't have 'Blue Circle' as the F2 & 3....

I can't help thinking that's why Tornados were used.

DZ

[ORAC]

:confused::confused::confused::confused:

[HaveQuick2]

I think the closest AD base to London is probably Lakenheath. God bless the Yanks!

[soddim]

Truth of the matter is, as the Russians already know, we have virtually sod all AD assets left. Just Coningsby and Leuchars now and you don't need to be KGB to know which is equipped with Tornados and which one has Typhoon. Sadly, neither has much of either.

[KeepItTidy]

Just to add recently russian subs have been getting close to the UK territory, they have far more nuclear threat than these bombers, nothing to fear I guess

[xxgunnerxx]

The biggest difference between the bear and the blackjack is that it is mach 2 capable, so my question is if they are approaching at that speed at night, do the NATO forces intercept them at that speed or how exactly does it work? I thought sonic booms were banned over land or is it just civil aircraft?:ugh:

[TEEEJ]

Nostrinian,
No probs. The info you seek is all in the public domain.

RAF - UK Air Defence (http://www.raf.mod.uk/currentoperations/opaukair.cfm)

'One of the primary roles for the RAF is air defence of the United Kingdom using the Tornado F3 and Typhoon F2. Currently, we hold a continuous ground readiness posture at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, and RAF Leuchars in Fife; this allows aircraft to take off within 8-10 minutes without pre-warning. Where there are indications that an aviation security incident might develop, bringing crews to cockpit readiness can reduce this scramble time. Aircraft are available at each base allowing us to provide good response across the country to defend against potential hostile threats.'

House of Commons Hansard Ministerial Statements for 19 Oct 2007 (pt 0001) (http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm071019/wmstext/71019m0001.htm)

'Airfield Review (Tertiary Airfield Support)
The Minister for the Armed Forces (Mr. Bob Ainsworth): On 18 July 2002, Official Report, columns 460-464, my right hon. Friend, the Member for Ashfield (Mr Hoon) the then Secretary of State for Defence, announced the publication of a new chapter to the 1998 Strategic Defence Review (SDR) that was designed to ensure that our defence policies, capabilities and force structures matched the challenges that the new terrorist threats posed.

Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) comprises: armed Tornado F3 and Typhoon aircraft held at ground readiness for immediate take-off; the Air Surveillance and Control System to provide warning and command and control of the fighter aircraft; and tanker aircraft also held at high ground readiness. QRA fulfils two concurrent functions. Firstly, it meets the United
19 Oct 2007 : Column 60WS
Kingdom's responsibility within NATO to provide air policing of agreed member airspace. Secondly, under UK national control, QRA provides an airborne contribution to countering threats against the UK by terrorist organisations or individuals. The SDR New Chapter confirmed that airfields across the UK—RAF Marham, RAF St Mawgan and RNAS Yeovilton—would be able to support QRA aircraft when needed, in addition to the bases from which the QRA aircraft usually operate.

Following the decision to dispose of the airfield at RAF St Mawgan, we have reviewed the short term tertiary airfields that support quick reaction alert aircraft and decided that MOD Boscombe Down and RNAS Culdrose will now be enabled by Spring 2008 to cover any potential threats to the south and south-western airspaces. In the interim, RAF St Mawgan will continue to be utilised as necessary to support short term QRA aircraft. RAF Marham will continue to be maintained as a tertiary QRA airfield. This support is in addition to the bases that are already able to operate such aircraft and will give us enhanced flexibility in our air defence arrangements.'

Station finder

RAF - Stations (http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/stations.cfm)