Intercepting Wandering Bears & Blackjacks Again (Merged)
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
So, are they all up north in the Barent Sea and out of our area, or did we get any of them?
Russian long-range bombers in Atlantic war games
Agence France-Presse | Jan 30, 2008
Moscow: Fourteen Russian long-range bombers flew over the north Atlantic on Tuesday in the last of a series of military manoeuvres held off Europe's coasts since December, news agencies reported.
"Pilots will work on questions of reconnaissance, launching rocket and bomb strikes on enemy naval formations and taking part in aerial battles and air patrols," air force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky was quoted as saying.
The exercises will be carried out over neutral waters "in strict accordance with international rules", Drobyshevsky said.
A naval group including the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier will also take part in the exercises, RIA Novosti news agency reported......
Russian long-range bombers in Atlantic war games
Agence France-Presse | Jan 30, 2008
Moscow: Fourteen Russian long-range bombers flew over the north Atlantic on Tuesday in the last of a series of military manoeuvres held off Europe's coasts since December, news agencies reported.
"Pilots will work on questions of reconnaissance, launching rocket and bomb strikes on enemy naval formations and taking part in aerial battles and air patrols," air force spokesman Alexander Drobyshevsky was quoted as saying.
The exercises will be carried out over neutral waters "in strict accordance with international rules", Drobyshevsky said.
A naval group including the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier will also take part in the exercises, RIA Novosti news agency reported......
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BBC in Engels filming the marauding Bear
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/new...news=1&bbcws=1
Guess this is why the Q guys are getting busier! Any chance of a few more quid to help, Gordon?
Guess this is why the Q guys are getting busier! Any chance of a few more quid to help, Gordon?
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QRA Stats for 2008
A recent repsonse from Hansard ref Q launches:
Russia: Military Aircraft
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times Russian military aircraft approached British airspace in (a) each month in 2008 and (b) each year since 2006.
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The following table details how frequently Quick Reaction Alert aircraft have been launched to identify Russian military aircraft approaching the NATO Air Policing Area for which the United Kingdom has responsibility, in each month of 2008.
2008 Number
January 2
February 0
March 1
April 1
May 1
June 0
July 1
August 1
September 1
October 1
November 0
December 1
The following table details how frequently Quick Reaction Alert aircraft were launched to identify Russian military aircraft:
Number
2006 1
2007 19
2008 10
All Russian military Aircraft have remained in International airspace and have not entered UK airspace.
Russia: Military Aircraft
Dr. Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times Russian military aircraft approached British airspace in (a) each month in 2008 and (b) each year since 2006.
Mr. Bob Ainsworth: The following table details how frequently Quick Reaction Alert aircraft have been launched to identify Russian military aircraft approaching the NATO Air Policing Area for which the United Kingdom has responsibility, in each month of 2008.
2008 Number
January 2
February 0
March 1
April 1
May 1
June 0
July 1
August 1
September 1
October 1
November 0
December 1
The following table details how frequently Quick Reaction Alert aircraft were launched to identify Russian military aircraft:
Number
2006 1
2007 19
2008 10
All Russian military Aircraft have remained in International airspace and have not entered UK airspace.
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... and also careful wording:
So they have remained more than 12nm from the mean line of the UK coast then.
All Russian military Aircraft have remained in International airspace and have not entered UK airspace.
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And another one...
BBC News - RAF spots Russian jets near Western Isles
Two Blackjacks this time, coming a long way down.
Article says intercepted near STN... given the elasticity with which that location can be interpreted, I'd like to have thought that they'd have ID'd them a lot further north than STN...
Two Blackjacks this time, coming a long way down.
Article says intercepted near STN... given the elasticity with which that location can be interpreted, I'd like to have thought that they'd have ID'd them a lot further north than STN...
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Northern Radar Coverage
Good that we got them by STN, not so sure about us seeing them a great deal further North than that though. Remember that we dont have Saxa Vord any more, nor the Faeroes! Civilian radars wont help since I don't think the Russians have started sqwarking. Quite a risk for someone to be taking.
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The thing that I'm finding particularly disconcerting about this episode is the use of the word "over". 
Looking at the various places the story has been run - The Torygraph, plus the Abz Press & Journal, Metro and others theres a lot of "over the Isle Of Lewis", "over Scotland", "over the Outer Hebrides", as against "over the North Atlantic" or "over the North Sea" - the implication being that at some point or other, these Blackjacks actually flew overland in UK airspace.
Now, I'm sure its more than likely journalistic licence/interpretation, but the choice of words, unless deliberately targetted at the dumbed-down, doesnt exactly go a huge way towards reinforcing any fast-eroding confidence in the Air Defence side of things in the UK...
I sincerely hope I'm reading too much into it.
Jackonicko, I'd welcome your take on it.
Looking at the various places the story has been run - The Torygraph, plus the Abz Press & Journal, Metro and others theres a lot of "over the Isle Of Lewis", "over Scotland", "over the Outer Hebrides", as against "over the North Atlantic" or "over the North Sea" - the implication being that at some point or other, these Blackjacks actually flew overland in UK airspace.
Now, I'm sure its more than likely journalistic licence/interpretation, but the choice of words, unless deliberately targetted at the dumbed-down, doesnt exactly go a huge way towards reinforcing any fast-eroding confidence in the Air Defence side of things in the UK...
I sincerely hope I'm reading too much into it.
Jackonicko, I'd welcome your take on it.
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For a really good slant on this see The Times readers comments !!
Most along the lines of "Good God bloody Ruskies in our airspace - shoot the buggers down I say what what" !!
Most along the lines of "Good God bloody Ruskies in our airspace - shoot the buggers down I say what what" !!
I'm wondering if they showed any interest in goings-on at Benbecula?
Does anyone have access to any more of those Hebridean Sunset piccies, showing Blackjacks on the prowl?
I imagine I'll get a faster, more helpful response from the Russian Embassy....
Does anyone have access to any more of those Hebridean Sunset piccies, showing Blackjacks on the prowl?
Dear OldBilbo,
I’m terribly sorry but I’m unable to send you the RAF photos you requested today.
I’m authorised to issue MoD material to the media, not the general public, but if you still wish to get copies of the photos you could try making a Freedom of Information request to the MoD. Information on how to do this is on the MoD website: Ministry of Defence | Contact us | Freedom of Information - Information request
I hope that helps.
I’m terribly sorry but I’m unable to send you the RAF photos you requested today.
I’m authorised to issue MoD material to the media, not the general public, but if you still wish to get copies of the photos you could try making a Freedom of Information request to the MoD. Information on how to do this is on the MoD website: Ministry of Defence | Contact us | Freedom of Information - Information request
I hope that helps.
A Daily Mail reader aircraft recognition expert spills the beans! 
"Having seen a low level fly-over of British Aerospace Chadderton Manchester by a Russian Nuclear Bomber in the summer of 2008 nothing surprises me. That Aircraft appeared on a sunny afternoon with no sign of UK defence aircraft.
- Mike walsh, Toronto Canada "
Those pesky Russians disguising themselves as Nimrod MRA4s!
TJ
"Having seen a low level fly-over of British Aerospace Chadderton Manchester by a Russian Nuclear Bomber in the summer of 2008 nothing surprises me. That Aircraft appeared on a sunny afternoon with no sign of UK defence aircraft.
- Mike walsh, Toronto Canada "
Those pesky Russians disguising themselves as Nimrod MRA4s!
TJ
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Oldbilbo, email С уважением, Пресс-группа at Russian Embassy [[email protected]]
very noisey outside, oops, black Omega just went past a second time
very noisey outside, oops, black Omega just went past a second time
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I can feel for the guy....
A year or so ago.... I spotted a Comet IV from the garden, and LOW (3000ft or so).
I did start wondering if I'd seen a ghost... until I found out that an MRA4 had been staging through MPL on the way to Afganistan.
CJ
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Can anyone translate the Ruskies red writing just behind the cockpits on these TU-160's please. You may have to google 'MOD Photo's' to get the pics as I cannot upload while at work.....
Fred,
See following links
Tu-160 names - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums
'01- Mikhail Gromov (Famous test pilot)
02- Vasiliy Reshetnikov (Former Long- range Aviation commander)
03- Pavel Taran (WW2 Bomber pilot)
04- Ivan Yarygin (Famous wrestler, won gold at 1972 Olympics)
05- Originally Il'ya Muromets, now Aleksandr Golovanov (Long- range Aviation commander, 1942-44 and 1946-48)
06- Il'ya Muromets
07- Aleksadr Molodchiy (famous WW2 bomber pilot)
11- Vasiliy Sen'ko (only Long- range Aviation navigator to become Hero of the Soviet Union twice)
12- Aleksandr Novikov (1940s Air Chief Marshal)
16- Aleksey Plokhov (WW2 Bomber pilot)'
Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack
TJ
See following links
Tu-160 names - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums
'01- Mikhail Gromov (Famous test pilot)
02- Vasiliy Reshetnikov (Former Long- range Aviation commander)
03- Pavel Taran (WW2 Bomber pilot)
04- Ivan Yarygin (Famous wrestler, won gold at 1972 Olympics)
05- Originally Il'ya Muromets, now Aleksandr Golovanov (Long- range Aviation commander, 1942-44 and 1946-48)
06- Il'ya Muromets
07- Aleksadr Molodchiy (famous WW2 bomber pilot)
11- Vasiliy Sen'ko (only Long- range Aviation navigator to become Hero of the Soviet Union twice)
12- Aleksandr Novikov (1940s Air Chief Marshal)
16- Aleksey Plokhov (WW2 Bomber pilot)'
Tupolev Tu-160 Blackjack
TJ
Vasily Reshetnikov. Seek and ye shall find -- Wikipedia is your friend.
All rather hum-drum. Were you hoping for something sensationalist, a la Ryanair perhaps? "Bye bye defence budget"?
edit: beaten to the punch by TEEJ. Well done that man. Takes me 8 minutes longer to type with sausage-like fingers...
All rather hum-drum. Were you hoping for something sensationalist, a la Ryanair perhaps? "Bye bye defence budget"?
edit: beaten to the punch by TEEJ. Well done that man. Takes me 8 minutes longer to type with sausage-like fingers...