Posted on 03/05/2008 5:30:17 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Russian bomber aircraft approached a U.S. aircraft carrier off the Korean coast on Wednesday and was intercepted by American fighter jets -- the second such incident in less than a month, U.S. defense officials said.
According to the U.S. officials, a Russian bomber came within three to five nautical miles and flew 2,000 feet (610 meters) above the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and its accompanying ships.
Two U.S. F/A-18 fighters were launched to intercept the Russian aircraft and escort it out of the area, according to one defense official.
Russian bombers over the past year have increased their flights near U.S. territory and U.S. naval assets, demonstrating their long-range strike capability.
In February, two Russian bombers approached the Nimitz near Japan and one flew over the carrier, escorted by a U.S. fighter jet. That was the first Russian overflight of a U.S. carrier since 2004.
Those operations come as Russian officials say they will revive some of the military power and reach allowed to collapse with the Soviet Union.
U.S. defense officials on Wednesday said they did not consider the Russian bomber flight a threat or concern.
But could they please ask for permission next time? /sarc
WTF? Bush better teach them how unacceptable this is before McCain or Hillary gets in.
We were doing this stuff 50 years ago over the Arctic. No big deal. Its just gamesmanship. Russia trying to reassert itself while we are bogged down in the ME and with elections.
Bogged down????
It’s a quagmire, man. Totally Bush’s fault!
Lock weapons on them!
Give ‘em a bit of a scare!
You may not be aware of this, but these types of flybys have been going on for decades, and really are standard operating procedure, like it or not. Additionally, if you have a ship in International Waters you do not have exclusive rights to the airspace above or around your ships.
“U.S. defense officials on Wednesday said they did not consider the Russian bomber flight a threat or concern.”
..... as they slap up a map to point and advise “we could have shot them down here, and here, and here, and here, and here.......”
Ping.
F-8 Crusader was about the best looking jet fighter the US Navy ever had—or any that the Air Force had. Great looking airplane. Damn thing just LOOKED like a fighter, unlike the F-4, which looked like a Goose.
To me, an A-7 never looked like it would fly sitting on the ground. Much less carry the huge bomb load it did!
I have to dissagree.My favorite navy Jet would have been the A-4 Skyhawk.A little bird that packed a lot of power.
My Air Force Jet would be the F-16.That jet can dog fight like no other aircraft.
Im Partial since I served In the Air Force but I loved that SkyHawk
I know we do this to them too, but 2000 feet from the Nimitz? I didn’t know we left them get that close. Or are they saying 3-4 miles away at 2000 feet?
Are you nuts? This is perfectly acceptable. It is a ship in international waters. If there is a problem then it will be a problem when we overfly THEIR ships in international waters. And believe you me, we fly over their ships far more than they fly over ours.
What about the P-51, or P-38?
I think the altitude was 2000ft.
ping!
I think one of our anti-aircraft missiles ought to do a final flyby on one of those bombers. That’ll get their attention...
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