Russian planes fly over U.S. naval ships

moldova.org ^ | 20/ 03/ 2009

[pobeda1945]

Two Russian planes flew within 500 feet of U.S. Navy ships participating in military drills with South Korea, military officials said.

After trying unsuccessfully to contact the pilots, U.S. fighter jets met up with the Russian planes and flew with them until they left the area, CNN reported.

One incident occurred Monday, when Russian Ilyushin IL-38 maritime patrol aircraft flew over the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis while it was in international waters in the Sea of Japan. The Russian aircraft flew within 500 feet of the carrier, which was lower than other Russian flyovers in the past year, military officials said.

On Tuesday, two Russian long-range bombers overflew the Stennis and the USS Blue Ridge several times at about 2,000 feet, U.S. military officials told CNN.

Military officials said U.S. aircraft tried contacting the Russian planes on international air frequency radio channels on both days but the Russian pilots didn't respond.

[al baby]

The cold war is back on Thanks to the Poser and hoser in the White House

[edcoil]

Where’s Maverick?

[wny]

The USN should introduce them to Mr. Sidewinder.

[skeeter]

There was a time getting within eyeshot of a US carrier at sea was a big deal.

Presumably 500 ft overflights by possibly hostile aircraft are no big deal now.

[Don Corleone]

"Mr. Gorbachev...Rebuild that wall!" TOTUS

[IbJensen]

Russia is our good friend now that it has been reformed.

[lakertaker]

TOTUS.....I still get a chuckle out of that one

[NoLibZone]

Great time for a few initiation predator flights by the kitchen staff.

Be a shame if a predator collided with a bear.

[mylife]

Copy the P3 much?

[Plutarch]

Hey, that looks like a P-3 Orion.

[meandog]

That a MAD boom on the back?

[SonOfDarkSkies]

Obama sends message to Iran...

Russia sends message to Obama!

[ClearCase_guy]

Testing ... 1 ... 2 ... 3 ... Testing ...

[FourPeas]

We allowed them to get within 500 feet? Uh, why?

[Future Snake Eater]

What the hell? Where was the CAP? Does the Navy even do CAP anymore?

[grobdriver]

Yes - that’s a MAD boom.

This is no big deal - we routinely “rigged” merchant ships as well as Soviet Naval ships (and subs, when we caught them on the surface) in the 70’s and 78’s.

Once a Krivak shot a flare across our nose, saying “Go Away”. We made another pass from further away just to show we could, and then went on to the next contact.

- Mike
USN P-3B/C Aircrew

[grobdriver]

er... 70’s and 80’s

[RonboTex]

There was a time getting within eyeshot of a US carrier at sea was a big deal. Presumably 500 ft overflights by possibly hostile aircraft are no big deal now.

Until one mega-million dollar carrier is sunk with all it planes, not to mention thousands of sailors.