RAF jets scrambled to intercept Russian planes

Telegraph ^ | 7/19/2007 | Telegraph

[pacelvi]

RAF jets scrambled to intercept Russian planes By Sally Peck and agencies Last Updated: 7:54am BST 19/07/2007

Two RAF fighter jets were scrambled on Tuesday to intercept two Russian planes on course for British airspace, it emerged yesterday.

The incident marked the latest escalation of tensions in the standoff between London and Moscow.

As Moscow hesitated in its response to Britain's expulsion of four Russian diplomats, two Tornado fighters raced to meet the Tu95 "Bear" bombers that had been dispatched from their base near the northern port city of Murmansk in the Arctic Circle. The planes turned back before they reached British airspace.

The incident, now rare according to the RAF, but once commonplace during the Cold War, may be seen as a show of defiance by the Kremlin.

But Moscow said the Russian planes were on a training flight unrelated to the current diplomatic crisis over the murder of Alexander Litvinenko.

[Yorlik803]

Sheeeeeee be very quiet I am hunting bears.....

[Steely Tom]

Mmmm. Andrea Dromm.

[Wuli]

"He must have a plan, because as we all know... “Russkies don’t take a dump without a plan, son.”

I don't believe he has any "plan". He may have hopes and ambitions, but I don't believe he has any "plan". If he did, he would not intentionally push Britain's friends and allies to see him even less favorably than they already do.

[zencat]

In British Airways trials, Concorde was offered as a target to NATO fighters including F-15s, F-16s, F-14s, Mirages, F-104s - but only the Lightning managed to overtake Concorde on a stern intercept.

Maybe I'm missing something, but the F-15 has a greater thrust-to-weight ratio, higher top speed, and is more maneuverable. Set and held numerous time-to-climb records.

[John D]

But Moscow said the Russian planes were on a training flight What? Training on how to bomb England?

Probably training to see when and how England would react in an attack.

[RinaseaofDs]

Apparently. This happened in Alaska too recently. I think about three weeks ago.

[Red6]

Buttt..... I thought the Russians were Europe’s new buddy buddy?

[longshadow]

Mmmm. Andrea Dromm. "Al-eeeeeeee-son Palm-air"

[kalee]

ping

[Thunder90]

Well, we still use B-52’s...

[Freelance Warrior]

The reemergence or the last gasp of the Russian bear?

Just routine military exercise.

[GBA]

Thanks for that very informative post!

[agere_contra]

Excellent post Sax.

[Always Independent]

The Brits have have a few boomers out there that can lay waste to Russia just as effectively as ours.

[Always Independent]

The F-15 was the streak eagle. It has been said that the lightning could fly in excess of 1500 mph but then its wings would shear off. F-20 fastest scamble time. Three minutes from engine start to FL20.

[Wuli]

As great as Britain’s capabilities may be, alone, by themselves they cannot pose a fatal threat to Russia, because an attempt by Britain alone, by itself, to carry out such a threat, would be met by Russian counter measures and retaliatory measures, reducing, if not eliminating the fatal nature to Russia of any successful British strikes.

But, my point is that Putin is not so stupid as to be ignorant of the fact that by the NATO alliance, Britain would in fact, if it came to it, NOT be acting alone. Therefore, he knows that in threatening Britain, militarily, his threat will be taken as a threat that NATO must respond to.

So it is silly for Putin to make military threats toward Britain in a manner which only increases the strength and commitment of Britain’s alliances with others; particularly when it is all an essentially diplomatic dispute that is limited to Britain and Russia in its essentials.

If Putin really wants to keep the issue a Russian-British issue, and not increase a “Russia vs the west” theme to it, he is working against such a goal with his military saber-rattling. It can only strengthen Britain, diplomatically and internationally while providing no increased measure of resolution in his favor.

If I believed that Putin meant for his actions to be more than just diplomatic saber-rattling, I would say he was behaving dangerously and recklessly. Instead, I just think he is a diplomatic dunce - the means he is using to demonstrate his interests will not and cannot achieve his goals. That is apparent, whether or not he has a right to expect a compromise from Britain on the issue - his goal. They way he is going only adds to the likelihood he would not get one.

[Sax]

Thanks, for the record those are not my words, I was sharing from another site I had read a while back. Cheers.

[Always Independent]

I agree, he is not an expert politician. He is used to following orders to carry achieve the goals of his handlers.

A regular bumbelpuss. To think, their goal is to be respected as a power. If he would have just joined in on the war on terror he could have established russia a a great power. But noooo, he wants respect by being a threat to peace and a stable world, which a throwback to communist principles.