Intercepting Wandering Bears & Blackjacks Again (Merged)
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Intercepting Wandering Bears & Blackjacks Again (Merged)
It all sounds almost nostalgic.
How unusual is this stuff these days, from the Russians? A Sqn Ldr is quoted here as saying he can't remember the last time...
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ECHOES OF COLD WAR AS RAF JETS SCRAMBLED
By Jude Sheerin, Scottish Press Association
The spectre of the Cold War was raised today after it emerged RAF jets had to be scrambled when Russian aircraft were detected observing a British naval exercise.
Two Tornado F3s roared into action from Leuchars in Fife after a pair of Russian Bear Foxtrot planes popped up on the air base's radar screens.
The Cold War era aircraft had swept down from Murmansk and the Kola Peninsula, in the far north of Russia, to snoop on a Royal Navy exercise.
Neptune Warrior took place in international waters of the Atlantic Ocean near Scotland in the last week.
The RAF would not disclose exactly when the brief incident to the north of the Outer Hebrides had happened but said no contact was made between the Russian and British aircraft.
Squadron Leader Keith Wardlaw said he could not remember the last time such an encounter had happened.
"The Russians obviously thought it might be worth coming through to have a look at what we were up to and probably take some photos," he said.
"It's a throwback to the Cold War when they used to fly in regularly to poke and prod at the edges of British airspace and test our reaction times.
"It's normal to let such aircraft know we're there by pulling up alongside them and they left quietly. The whole encounter probably lasted 15, 20 minutes."
Neptune Warrior was a live-fire naval training exercise involving warships, submarines and aircraft that took place between April 22 and May 3.
The 161ft-long Russian Bear Foxtrot was designed to fly 3,975 miles without refuelling carrying a payload of more than 10 tons - about the weight of a nuclear bomb at the time the plane was made.
Paul Jackson, editor of Jane's All The World's Aircraft, said: "This aircraft dates back to the 1950s and although the air frame might look dated it is still highly effective in terms of long-range maritime reconnaissance.
"These used to fly over the North Sea and the Greenland Gap daily during the Cold War and while it's rare today, it's by no means a unique occurrence. It's nice to know the Russians are out and about again.
"The exercise was in international waters and the Russians have got just as much right to be there as we have. We do it to them, they do it to us.
"All the RAF are doing is telling them: 'We could do this for real if we wanted to, so go and tell your mates back home'."
How unusual is this stuff these days, from the Russians? A Sqn Ldr is quoted here as saying he can't remember the last time...
_________________________________
ECHOES OF COLD WAR AS RAF JETS SCRAMBLED
By Jude Sheerin, Scottish Press Association
The spectre of the Cold War was raised today after it emerged RAF jets had to be scrambled when Russian aircraft were detected observing a British naval exercise.
Two Tornado F3s roared into action from Leuchars in Fife after a pair of Russian Bear Foxtrot planes popped up on the air base's radar screens.
The Cold War era aircraft had swept down from Murmansk and the Kola Peninsula, in the far north of Russia, to snoop on a Royal Navy exercise.
Neptune Warrior took place in international waters of the Atlantic Ocean near Scotland in the last week.
The RAF would not disclose exactly when the brief incident to the north of the Outer Hebrides had happened but said no contact was made between the Russian and British aircraft.
Squadron Leader Keith Wardlaw said he could not remember the last time such an encounter had happened.
"The Russians obviously thought it might be worth coming through to have a look at what we were up to and probably take some photos," he said.
"It's a throwback to the Cold War when they used to fly in regularly to poke and prod at the edges of British airspace and test our reaction times.
"It's normal to let such aircraft know we're there by pulling up alongside them and they left quietly. The whole encounter probably lasted 15, 20 minutes."
Neptune Warrior was a live-fire naval training exercise involving warships, submarines and aircraft that took place between April 22 and May 3.
The 161ft-long Russian Bear Foxtrot was designed to fly 3,975 miles without refuelling carrying a payload of more than 10 tons - about the weight of a nuclear bomb at the time the plane was made.
Paul Jackson, editor of Jane's All The World's Aircraft, said: "This aircraft dates back to the 1950s and although the air frame might look dated it is still highly effective in terms of long-range maritime reconnaissance.
"These used to fly over the North Sea and the Greenland Gap daily during the Cold War and while it's rare today, it's by no means a unique occurrence. It's nice to know the Russians are out and about again.
"The exercise was in international waters and the Russians have got just as much right to be there as we have. We do it to them, they do it to us.
"All the RAF are doing is telling them: 'We could do this for real if we wanted to, so go and tell your mates back home'."
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Does anyone have any good High Definition shots of cold war intercepts, including RAF and Soviet aircraft available? Am trying to put together a "coldwar" presentation at the moment and can only find very low quality ones...
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NC,
you mean one of those screens where a big green triangular segment rotates rapidly and a big bright dot closes on the centre going DONG every time the green segment crosses it?
I want one of those radars
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The Daily Mail carried the story too http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770
Sadly their Defence "Expert" clearly couldn't find a Photo of an F3
Sadly their Defence "Expert" clearly couldn't find a Photo of an F3
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Has the VC10 MRTA*taken over from the F3s, or is it the stop-gap replacement until the Typhoon is finally ready
or was it topping up the tanks of the Bear in a goodwill gesture?!
*Multi Role Transport(tanker) Aircraft
or was it topping up the tanks of the Bear in a goodwill gesture?!*Multi Role Transport(tanker) Aircraft
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mcs7
Thanks for pointing that out.
In fairness to the poor chap I happen to know that the Mail's defence correspondent - who can tell an F3 from a GR4 and takes some professional pride in getting these things right - wasn't consulted before this story (which he didn't write) was stuck on the website with the wrong pic.
I also happen to know that he's gently pointed out to website staff the error of their ways, and suggested they change it pronto, and that a version of the story he's written for tomorrow's paper is painstakingly researched and (he hopes) correct in every detail.
Original question at top of thread - anyone got a feel for how often this is happening these days?
Thanks for pointing that out.
In fairness to the poor chap I happen to know that the Mail's defence correspondent - who can tell an F3 from a GR4 and takes some professional pride in getting these things right - wasn't consulted before this story (which he didn't write) was stuck on the website with the wrong pic.
I also happen to know that he's gently pointed out to website staff the error of their ways, and suggested they change it pronto, and that a version of the story he's written for tomorrow's paper is painstakingly researched and (he hopes) correct in every detail.
Original question at top of thread - anyone got a feel for how often this is happening these days?
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
I could ask if they were tracked all the way from 30 east, intercepted at the edge of cover, continuously tracked until departing the ADR etc - but that's niff-naff and trivia.
What's far more interesting is the message the Russians are sending with this, and the previous, penetrations.
What's far more interesting is the message the Russians are sending with this, and the previous, penetrations.
Back in the Cold war we flew over Murmansk and the Kola peninsular on a fairly regular basis - once the ice had started to melt so the boats could leave - fortunately no Tonka/F4 equivalents available that far north altho' Alconbury did lose an RB66 in that area in c 1963 if I recall correctly
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A misguided Sqn Ldr
Suffice to say the quoted Sqn Ldr is talking out of his arse!! Unless of course he isn't capable of remember past 9 months or so!!! If you catch my drift.
Just a busybody who is justifying his exsistance in an airforce that is overstreched and is doing away with people and personnel at an alarming rate. Personely I would rather have a couple more SAC lineys than a meligering self important blunty!!
but who am I say :
Just a busybody who is justifying his exsistance in an airforce that is overstreched and is doing away with people and personnel at an alarming rate. Personely I would rather have a couple more SAC lineys than a meligering self important blunty!!
but who am I say :
I personally agree with High_Expect, we just don't publicise it a lot...
But more importantly, back to the Daily Mail link mentioned earlier:
The F3 is now (shock/horror) actually an F3, albeit with legacy weapons, but the Bear F has changed a bit since I last did any recce at work...
I fear the pucker factor may have been slightly higher had one of those popped around to say hello
But more importantly, back to the Daily Mail link mentioned earlier:
The Daily Mail carried the story too http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770
Sadly their Defence "Expert" clearly couldn't find a Photo of an F3
Sadly their Defence "Expert" clearly couldn't find a Photo of an F3
I fear the pucker factor may have been slightly higher had one of those popped around to say hello
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Frodo Monkey
I do NOT believe it.
Right, I happen to know that Mail chap has now had another slightly less civil word, and that correct picture - a fine snap of the event itself, clearly showing F3 with aforementioned Bear, taken from cockpit of other F3 - will shortly appear.
Some of us hacks do try.
Next some bright spark will tell me Bear is not an 'F' at all. Confess my recognition skills aren't up to that. If so, blame publicity people at Leuchars.
As for comments from you and High_Expect on frequency of these visits - interesting. Thanks.
I do NOT believe it.
Right, I happen to know that Mail chap has now had another slightly less civil word, and that correct picture - a fine snap of the event itself, clearly showing F3 with aforementioned Bear, taken from cockpit of other F3 - will shortly appear.
Some of us hacks do try.
Next some bright spark will tell me Bear is not an 'F' at all. Confess my recognition skills aren't up to that. If so, blame publicity people at Leuchars.
As for comments from you and High_Expect on frequency of these visits - interesting. Thanks.
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OK, I have followed the link to the Daily Mail and I have read the main story which is entitled 'Who had more sex, mother or daughter?' Now what's all this talk about Bears and F-3s??
Out of interest, why didn't the infinitely more superior Navy or Army do this task? Oh, I remember now - THEY CAN'T!!
Out of interest, why didn't the infinitely more superior Navy or Army do this task? Oh, I remember now - THEY CAN'T!!
Out of interest, why didn't the infinitely more superior Navy or Army do this task? Oh, I remember now - THEY CAN'T!!
Even the Fleet Air Finger with the SHAR would have struggled against the pic the Daily Mail put up (looked like an Su-30 to me) - and before any of the dark blue say it, yes I am saying the F3 is better than the Sea Harrier ever was
