It’s an exercise! The F-18s were probably using the Buff to practice interecepting Bears, which is not an anacronistic exercise.
But...but...but I thought the Navy said it was okay for Russians, Chinese and islamists to buzz our carriers.
Right on target. The Bomber was ued to simulate a Russian or other hostile heavy craft getting too close to a carrier. I have some great memories of flipping off bears back in the eighties when I was aboard the USS Enterprise. Nothing like seeing the enemy up close to get a bunch of young jarheads fired up. LOL