Russia Conducts Nuclear Bomber Flight Near Alaska: Two Bear H bombers intrude into air defense zone

Washington Free Beacon ^ | 05/01/2015 | Bill Gertz

[Romulus]

Much ado about nothing. The ADIZ surrounding AK is vast -- larger than the state itself -- and consists almost entirely of international airspace.

Moreover, according to Wikipedia, the US Navy's Commander's Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations states the ADIZ applies only to commercial aircraft intending to enter U.S. sovereign airspace, with a basis in international law of "the right of a nation to establish reasonable conditions of entry into its territory".

"The manual specifically instructs U.S. military aircraft to ignore the ADIZ of other states when operating in coastal areas:

The United States does not recognize the right of a coastal nation to apply its ADIZ procedures to foreign aircraft not intending to enter national airspace nor does the United States apply its ADIZ procedures to foreign aircraft not intending to enter U.S. airspace. Accordingly, U.S. military aircraft not intending to enter national airspace should not identify themselves or otherwise comply with ADIZ procedures established by other nations, unless the United States has specifically agreed to do so.

I am all for monitoring Russian military movements, but certain neocon media outlets are trying to blow this into something approaching a provocation. It's they who are the provocateurs.

[Procyon]

The headline and article is a bit alarmist. It's called the Air Defense Identification Zone. The boundary is well off shore in international waters. If your flight doesn't intend to cross into national airspace you aren't required to file a flight plan or radio in. The U.S. certainly doesn't notify the Russians in advance of our flights near their coasts, either. The flights are designed to provoke and record the response from the defense systems. Sometimes it's best to give the Russians no new intelligence regarding our detection, communications and interception capabilities.

[AZLiberty]

Now Sarah Palin can see Russian AIRCRAFT from her house!

[Ben Ficklin]

“despite remaining in international airspace”

[lavaroise]

I remember the days when experts were womderin what Russia was gaining for being friends with Iran... As if one would wonder why mafias made deals, nut these were the good times! Now we make friends with Iran ourselves, a Russia proxy.