TU-95 Intercept

[dikastes]

TU-95 Enter British Airspace

Despite what Cameron said the TU-95s entered the London FIR, British Controlled Airspace, off the west coast of Cornwall chased by two typhoons. They crossed Civil Upper Air Routes being used by civil airliners. They were in Class C airspace! (Never even asked for a clearance Eventually the 'Bears' left British airspace and entered Irish airspace. I really cannot see how this can be acceptable.

[oxenos]

Could have been worse. They could have sent a submarine. Then again, they probably have.

[Herod]

Just out of interest, if the need arose to ramp up the military quickly, what sort of stuff have we in storage that could be reactivated? There must be some tanks etc somewhere, and various aircraft bits being used as ashtrays.

[Brian W May]

Picture this perhaps:

Dave Cameron: Ah, Vlad, yes thanks for taking my call.

Vlad Putin: Dave baby, how can I help?

DC: Spot of bother here old chap. You know you need a bit of foreign currency and an easing of sanctions etc, well how would you like us to help with that?

VP: Yeah, times are a bit hard here too, what can I do?

DC: Since there are no wars currently planned and me and Barak are being pressurised by those global conglomerates that make biggest money from arms etc Any chance of sending a couple of aircraft, ships or submarines to sniff around our EU borders? I'm a bit concerned about our Armed Forces manning and equipment levels, but nobody would listen in our political system. But if you rattle a sabre or two, we might well be able to sort it that way - you know what our media are like.

VP: Da, I can do that, would Bears be sufficient? Ah, how about I stick a couple of submarines into the Baltic and send the odd fighter up acting a bit aggressively too. I appreciate you'll have to talk tough, but if you then back off on the sanctions etc, it would help this end too.

DC: We think we have a bit of influence with Barak, you'll know we both have imminent elections and frankly we need something external to show what kind of statesmen we are. We can't just rely on winding up the Muslim IS outfit as that'll influence our re-armament in the wrong direction for maximum profits.

VP: Anything else?

DC: That'll do for me then. Perhaps we'll share a glass or two when we next meet comrade - my little joke eh? Should sort out that plonker Milibland and keep UKIP on side too.

[Golf-Mike-Mike]

Originally Posted by Doors to Automatic

They came over the top of Scotland, down the Atlantic and along the Channel as far as a point South of Bournemouth, then did a 180 and went back the same way.

Thanks for clarifying, amazing what folk will do for an aerial view of winter beach babes :-)

[M609]

They crossed Civil Upper Air Routes being used by civil airliners. They were in Class C airspace! (Never even asked for a clearance Eventually the 'Bears' left British airspace and entered Irish airspace. I really cannot see how this can be acceptable.

You mean they did what NATO does both east of the North Cape and in the Baltic Sea all the time?

[AnglianAV8R]

The media seem to confuse FIR with territorial airspace at times. But let's not have accurate detail and spoil the drama. As has already been pointed out, we sniff around certain areas. People in glass houses etc

[KenV]

Despite what Cameron said the TU-95s entered the London FIR, British Controlled Airspace, off the west coast of Cornwall chased by two typhoons. They crossed Civil Upper Air Routes being used by civil airliners. They were in Class C airspace! (Never even asked for a clearance Eventually the 'Bears' left British airspace and entered Irish airspace. I really cannot see how this can be acceptable.

Ummm, no. This was NOT "controlled airspace". They were operating in
an FIR.

Definition of FIR:

A flight information region (FIR) is a specified region of airspace in which a flight information service and an alerting service (ALRS) are provided. It is the largest regular division of airspace in use in the world today. FIRs have existed since 1947 at least. Oceanic airspace is divided into Oceanic Information Regions and delegated to a controlling authority bordering that region.

FIRs, particularly Oceanic FIRs are in international airspace and are NOT in territorial airspace. The US military and indeed the militaries of almost every NATO nation routinely operate around Russian airspace the way these Russian aircraft operate around European airspace. Not only is this legal, but it is perfectly "acceptable" and routine. The Soviets did this for decades. When they became Russian again the practice stopped for the simple reason that they did not have the money. When their economy picked up again they started those flights again. But with the ruble recently tanking and their economy struggling again, those flights may (or may not) stop. Nothing sinister here.

[Basil]

Yup, 'The open FIR' as we used to refer to it - territorial or not
Anyhoo they were probably checking out nice places to live within a longhaul commute to LHR if they get that job they're going to apply for.

[Just This Once...]

Originally Posted by KenV

Ummm, no. This was NOT "controlled airspace". They were operating in
an FIR.

Definition of FIR:
…. and delegated to a controlling authority bordering that region.

I was going to correct you Ken, but I see you corrected yourself. These aircraft were operating in the FIR in controlled airspace delegated to the authorities bordering the region.

[Just This Once...]

Originally Posted by KenV

The US military and indeed the militaries of almost every NATO nation routinely operate around Russian airspace the way these Russian aircraft operate around European airspace. Not only is this legal, but it is perfectly "acceptable" and routine.

Oh and you are incorrect here too.

[CoffmanStarter]

Brian @ #64

[dagowly]

Quite simple, they entered the UK area of interest in class C airspace without their transponder on and not talking to anyone. Q was launched. Plus most of the time the the UK gets a heads up from other countries the aircraft are flying through and not chatting to anyone.

[MightyGem]

How come these aircraft are being intercepted down over the Channel, as opposed to north of Scotland as they used to be?

[Heathrow Harry]

Scotland is expendable - I think Dave feels he could probably form a decent coalition with Mr Putin whereas Mr Salmond et al....................

[VictorNavrad]

My guess is that we no longer have full 24 X7 radar cover looking East.
Would be a good question for Dave at PMQ's

[ZOOKER]

Does anyone have any factual information about the tracks flown and the especially the approximate levels flown by these TU95 flights please?
How did they get to Cornwall/SE of Ireland?
I'm trying to answer a query from a civillian captain. Please PM me if you would prefer.

[vintage ATCO]

Send 'em a Route Charges bill.

[clunckdriver]

Looking at these pictures it seems that we are in a time warp, the airframes are obviously updated but those huge contor- rotating turbo props look just as they did from the front seat of a CF100 in the fifties, I wonder what would have been the result if the public had been able to view the real time quality images we now regard as normal, would the Cold War have heated up given the number of live scrambles which took place back then?

[TrakBall]

OK, it's a slow Saturday and this is a little off topic but here goes.

The next time the Bears come calling, why not do the intercept with a B2 and a specialized camera aircraft to get good photos and video?

Think of the photos, the propaganda value and the headline.
"Remember, we see you coming - and you won't see us."

I know, hat - coat - out the door.

TB