Posted on 10/31/2014 6:44:20 AM PDT by McGruff
NATO detected and monitored four groups of Russian military aircraft conducting significant military manoeuvers in European airspace over the Baltic Sea, North Sea/Atlantic Ocean, and Black Sea on 28 and 29 October 2014. These sizable Russian flights represent an unusual level of air activity over European airspace
Eight Russian Aircraft Intercepted over North Sea / Atlantic Ocean on 29 October 2014
At approximately 3:00 a.m. CET on 29 October, NATO radars detected and tracked eight Russian aircraft flying in formation over the North Sea. F-16 aircraft from the Royal Norwegian Air Force were scrambled, intercepted and identified the Russian aircraft, which included four Tu-95 Bear H strategic bombers and four Il-78 tanker aircraft. The formation flew from mainland Russia over the Norwegian Sea in international airspace. Six of the Russian aircraft then turned back to the north-east towards Russia, while two Tu-95 Bear H bombers continued south-west, parallel to the Norwegian coast, heading to the south-west. The Russian aircraft continued over the North Sea, and Typhoon fighters from the United Kingdom were scrambled in response. While over the Atlantic Ocean west of Portugal, the two Russian aircraft were intercepted and identified by F-16s from the Portuguese Air Force. The Russian aircraft turned back heading north-east, flying to the west of the United Kingdom. NATO aircraft from the United Kingdom and Norway were standing by and NATO assets on the ground and in the air tracked the Russian aircraft throughout. At present, the two Tu-95 bombers appear headed back to Russia, but as of 4 p.m. CET the aircraft were still airborne.
The bomber and tanker aircraft from Russia did not file flight plans or maintain radio contact with civilian air traffic control authorities and they were not using on-board transponders. This poses a potential risk to civil aviation as civilian air traffic control cannot detect these aircraft or ensure there is no interference with civilian air traffic.
Four Russian Aircraft Intercepted over Black Sea on 29 October 2014
During the afternoon of 29 October, NATO radars detected and tracked four Russian aircraft flying over the Black Sea in international air space, including 2 Tu-95 Bear-H bombers and 2 Su-27 Flanker fighter jets. Fighters from the Turkish Air Force have intercepted the Russian aircraft and NATO is continuing to track them in international airspace. As of 4 p.m. CET the aircraft were still airborne.
Multiple Russian Aircraft Intercepted over Baltic Sea on 29 October 2014
During the afternoon of 29 October, NATO radars detected and tracked a number Russian aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea in international airspace, including 2x MiG-31 Foxhound, 2x Su-34 Fullback, 1x Su-27 Flanker and 2x Su-24 Fencer jets. Portuguese F-16 Fighters assigned to the Baltic Air Policing Mission were scrambled in response and the Russian aircraft returned to Russian airspace.
Seven Russian Fighter Jets also Intercepted on 28 October 2014
During the afternoon of 28 October, NATO radars detected and tracked seven Russian combat aircraft flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft were detected at approximately 2:30 p.m. CET on 28 October and included 2x MiG-31 Foxhound, 2x Su-34 Fullback, 1x Su-27 Flanker and 2x Su-24 Fencer jets.
The Russian aircraft were flying in the Gulf of Finland and were intercepted by German Typhoon fighter jets from NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission in order to identify the aircraft and protect Allied air space. The Russian aircraft continued into the Baltic Sea and were subsequently intercepted by Allied fighters from Denmark as well as fighters from Finland and Sweden, which are not members of NATO. The Russian fighters continued to the Kaliningrad Oblast. The Russian aircraft had filed a flight plan with air traffic control authorities, were using transponders, but did not maintain radio contact with civilian air traffic control.
NATO jets were on standby throughout the duration of both Russian flights and Russian aircraft were continually tracked using Allied assets on the ground and in the air. NATO has conducted over 100 intercepts of Russian aircraft in 2014 to date, which is about three times more than were conducted in 2013.
Scrambles and intercepts are standard procedure when an unknown aircraft approaches NATO airspace. However, such flights pose a potential risk to civil aviation given that the Russian military often do not file flight plans, or use their on-board transponders. This means civilian air traffic control cannot detect these aircraft nor ensure there is no interference with civilian air traffic.
NATO Allies protect their airspace on a 24/7 basis. Allied air defence efforts are focused on stopping unauthorised incursions into NATO airspace and on preventing acts of airborne terrorism.
We need to bolster our forces in the Baltic States.
If Russia does this everyday, NATO will become complacent about it.
Then, when it is real, Russia can roll right over them.
I am glad they are protecting us from Russia and I am also glad they are protecting us from ISIS, oh wait....
Reflective of Obama’s failed reset and inaction.
Meanwhile our troops are battling Ebola. Grrr...
This Russia plane thing is probably to divert attention from things like this.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3221634/posts
They’ve got about 2 years of a complicit leadership in America left.
Nothing more than NATO fear mongering...the Russian planes were flying in international airspace, had filed a flight plan in advance, and were using transponders.
Did you read the article? It says quite clearly that the bombers and tankers did neither.
If I were President I would publicly announce tomorrow that the Iowa class battleships would be modernized and brought back into active service.
The Russian aircraft had filed a flight plan with air traffic control authorities, were using transponders, but did not maintain radio contact with civilian air traffic control.
Also from the article:
“The bomber and tanker aircraft from Russia did not file flight plans or maintain radio contact with civilian air traffic control authorities and they were not using on-board transponders”
L
From the article: Two different dates, two different statuses.
One did not file a flight plan and was not using transponders. The other did.
I’ve heard in the past that battleships had become antiquated.
But, I’ll let you have your battleships if you’ll let me have back my SR-71 blackbirds! :)
“If I were President I would publicly announce tomorrow that the Iowa class battleships would be modernized and brought back into active service.”
This pResident, however, is more likely to upgrade everyone’s 0bamaphones to Iphone-6s, than spend anything on upgrading the military.
They cost too much. You need like 1800 people to man the Iowa class.
Considering the over-reaction to the first flight in which the Russians followed international protocol, perhaps they decided 'why bother' on the subsequent flight the next day.
Either way, its Brussels pushing the panic button to gin up support for their gold brick alliance.
Russia is a Loki, a trickster. They like to stir it up. They are an irritant but they are not going to roll over anybody. With falling oil prices Russia is already hurting. They cannot afford military actions of any scale.
it’s a cool dream though.
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