Posted on 02/11/2008 3:45:40 PM PST by Flavius
Edited on 02/11/2008 4:36:47 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
Russian bomber aircraft approached a US Aircraft carrier in the Pacific on Saturday and were intercepted by American fighter jets, a US Defense official said on Monday...
Excerpt. Story continues: YNetNews
Update:
Google AP
Navy Intercepts Russian Bombers
By LOLITA C. BALDOR – 1 hour ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. fighter planes intercepted two Russian bombers, including one that buzzed an American aircraft carrier in the western Pacific during the weekend, The Associated Press has learned.
A U.S. military official says that one Russian Tupolev 95 flew directly over the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz twice, at a low altitude of about 2,000 feet, while another bomber circled about 58 miles out. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because the reports on the flights were classified as secret.
The Saturday incident, which never escalated beyond the flyover, comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Russia over U.S. plans for a missile defense system based in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Such Russian bomber flights were common during the Cold War, but have been rare since.
The bombers were among four Russian Tupolev 95s launched from Ukrainka in the middle of the night, including one that Japanese officials say violated their country's airspace over an uninhabited island south of Tokyo.
U.S. officials tracked and monitored the bombers as two flew south along the Japanese coast, and two others flew farther east, coming closer to the Nimitz and the guided missile cruiser USS Princeton.
As the bombers got about 500 miles out from the U.S. ships, four F/A-18 fighters were launched from the Nimitz, the official said. The fighters intercepted the Russian bombers about 50 miles south of the Nimitz.
At least two U.S. F/A-18 Hornets trailed the bomber as it came in low over the Nimitz twice, while one or two of the other U.S. fighters followed the second bomber as it circled.
The official said there were no verbal communications between the U.S. and the Russians, and the Pentagon has not heard of any protests being filed by the United States. Historically, diplomatic protests were not filed in such incidents because they were so common during the Cold War era.
This is the first time Russian Tupolevs have flown over or interacted with a U.S. carrier since 2004.
In that incident, a Russian Tupolev flew over the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk in the Sea of Japan on Jan. 29, 2004. Since then, however, relations between the U.S. and Russia have deteriorated to their worst point since the Cold War, largely due to the United States' plans to put a radar system in the Czech Republic and 10 missile defense interceptors in Poland.
The U.S. has defended the plan as necessary to protect its European allies from possible attacks by Iran. But the Kremlin has condemned the proposal, saying it would threaten Russia's security.
"We are being forced to take retaliatory steps," said Russian President Vladimir Putin, who also warned that a new arms race is under way.
Japan, meanwhile, filed a formal protest with the Russian Embassy in Tokyo after Saturday's incident, saying that one of the Russian bombers crossed into Japanese airspace for three minutes. Russia has denied there was an intrusion.
...and allowing them to overfly the carrier directly at 2k ft or 600m is also not standard procedure either.
I remember quite a few nights after hitting the rack hearing "Now launch the alert CAT". A minute later you heard the thud {down at waterline} then rolled over for some sleep. Another Bear mets a waiting Tomcat. The buzzing was just a part of it. The trawlers 12 miles aft were annoying as well. We got buzzed but like you say our guys had a ready hot one ready to go up their exhaust if need be and Ivan knew it too.
As long as the challengers are intercepted before their arrival that means our Navy is doing it's job. If not then the Operations Officer got a lot of xplainun to do to the resident ComCARGROUP. An undetected sub is a much larger threat.
Next time they pull a stunt like this, my vote says to take the plane down.
Thanks for the good picture!
Which you'll lose. Again. Makes me want to re-join the submarine Navy.
Shed a tear, hope that being teary eyed will gain support of those who could handle the situation and ask them for a donation when they have resolved the situation.
I thought such areas were “No fly, no way” zones. Wander into them and meet a bad end.
What
Will
Dubya
Do?
The point I conveyed.
WHatsa trailing tattle tail?
We need President John McCain.
As God as my witness, I thought that turkeys could fly!
The admiral of the Nimitz should be relieved of command and should be dishonorably discharged. What a disgrace.
Our military is becoming very lazy and terrible. It is time for a reorganization of the military. Some generals and admirals need to be relieved of duty.
Maybe they are.
The Russians and not very happy with Iran’s recent missile tests. Maybe they are starting to wonder if they will have to go whack Iran again, and would like some back up.
Retire and relax, after a tenure of formidable work at maintaining our sovereignty via defense of our freedoms, in about 11 months.
Any more questions?
Same with the CVA63. Kinda makes ya wonder what the silent service is doing these days, eh?
so sofar, Google and gaYNetNews is reporthing this....is there a credible source?
... and a big chunk of the R's. Times have changed.
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