They are fitted with and do use a regular civilian transponder. Unfortunately they typically turn it off when encroaching on an FIR and mastering the art of being a safety problem, but not always. They also tend to file regular flight plans for long-range transits (eg to Venezuela) and for these they squawk & talk normally.

You may be confusing military-only IFF systems and yes, there is little perceived need for these systems to cooperate!

having heard Bears from the ground I don't think you need an amplifier - you need ear plugs.........................

So what about those flying under Sovreign Govt authority.

That's down to the government involved, though I've not heard of any instances of NATO member states not doing so in non-combat conditions. My statement was in response to comment re "NATO flights".

Are you all sure that NATO planes always fly with transponders ON? I am not. It is often (not always, to be fair) specially underlined in reports that transponders were off.
What about these talks 4 years ago?
https://www.wsj.com/articles/nato-re...ion-1474391644

NATO Rejects Russian Air-Safety Proposal for Planes in Baltic Region....

WSJ seems not to be a pro-Russian fake news agency.....

I have visited both the NATO CAOCs at Ueden in Germany and Torrejon in Spain. Russian's flying without transponders was/is a big issue so I made a point of asking about NATO aircraft, and was assured point-blank that ALL aircraft flying under NATO authority do so with their transponders turned on, always.

Which is a handy get out. Govts will claim that under "NATO" control they always have transponders on but ignore majority of flights will not be NATO ones.

Anything NATO has to say about anything is 'a handy get out' to you racedo, that much has become clear over the years of your postings.

I rarely comment on what NATO says but hey you can post what you think.

But as USAF / RAF etc report to Sovreign Govts then we can safely assume they don't use transponders on non NATO excursions when flying close to other countrys borders.

Why would you assume that? I only made reference to 'NATO' because that is what the OP said and it was a NATO rep that I spoke to. The rep made no mention of the RAF, USAF etc flying without transponders, so not sure why you'd conclude that to be the case.

Looking at MOGWI's picture at #31 reminds me of an occasion in March 1981, when, west of Ireland heading south, my brave Wg Cdr Victor pilot took us to that position on one of the Bears.

The F4 crew that we were supporting told us " I would not go there if I were you"

Shortly after that they told us that the Sonobouy that the Bear had dropped had passed between the fuselage and the tailplane!!!!!

We moved back to echelon on the Bear.

I still remember the first time we got within 100ft of one, and how the noise and vibration we felt was a little concerning. I assume UK Health and Safety Noise Regulations do not apply to them.

When I had the chance to look around one at Fairford I was amazed to see the crew escape system. anybody else wish to describe it?

On a different tack, it was always a good wind up to ask any F4 crews who were wearing a "10 Bear badge" if they knew where we could get a "30 Bear badge" .