Posted on 09/08/2013 5:30:02 PM PDT by Nachum
RAF Typhoon fighters won a mid-air showdown with two Syrian warplanes heading towards Britain’s main base in Cyprus, the Sunday People reports.
The dramatic confrontation came after President Bashar Al-Assad’s air chiefs sent two Russian-made Sukhoi Su-24s to probe British air defenses, the report said.
The Syrian bombers refused to respond to repeated attempts by the control tower at the UK’s Akrotiri air base to contact them.
RAF pilots flying the advanced combat jet were scrambled before the Sukhois could enter our 14-mile air exclusion zone.
The Typhoons – which can scream from runway standstill to seven miles high in 90 seconds – soared into the sky to make visual contact with the Syrian pilots, reported the Sunday People, which added that the moment the Syrians spotted the British planes on their radar they high-tailed for home.
(Excerpt) Read more at israelnationalnews.com ...
Why test British defenses? Didn’t they vote “no” to war with Syria?
We’re those typhonies part of the 2 active squadrons the brits are currently flying?
“It was a rather Russian thing to do.”
Quite correct....
With all of the bluster from Obama, the Russians are probably telling them to use the assets, and don’t get them taken out on the ground, like everyone else has done against us.
And I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this was directed from Armavir.
The administration’s working assumption seems to be that the Syrians can’t possibly strike back. Iran purchased 12 Kh-55 Kent cruise missiles from Ukraine in about 2001. The Iranian Meshkat cruise missile is rumored to be a reverse engineered Kent. If this rumor is correct and Iran were to provide the Meshkat to their ally Syria, assuming the missile is any good, it could make life exciting for the 6th Fleet and anyone else in the Eastern Med.
They did not win anything. The Syrian pilots did exactly what they were suppose to do. They were only testing the RAF response. It was not a actual attempt at bombing Cyprus.
“...arrogance and ignorance...”
Two of three ingredients needed to make a perfect “stupid” martini. Add ice, gently stir, toss in an olive and you’ve got the perfect Stupid Cocktail.
There is nothing more dangerous in the world than arrogance and ignorance together. Obama has both in spades.
The soviets did this stuff a lot during the cold war. It’s recon, but also has a psychological effect. Curious that they directed it towards Cyprus. Maybe Syria (Russia) doesn’t quite believe the Brits are sitting this one out completely.
Yep...that and Putin knows how well Obumba slighted the Brits. Maybe he’s hoping they’ll back out completely once they realize this could end badly for them.
That all adds up. Putin knows that the Brits are still allowing us access to their intelligence reports. This move may have punctuated some back-channel message to cease that activity, or risk being treated as a full combatant.
Wasn’t too long ago that Turkey was playing chicken with Greece the same way in the same neighborhood.
It’s a not so subtle message to Cyprus too. Air attacks launched from there make Cyprus a target for attack. Obama is ready to start a general war in the middle east to help his Saudi funded MB bretheren.
There is no American interest.
Anyone else have the image of a bunch of kids poking a guard dog with a stick, then screaming when it turns and snaps at them?
I quite agree. This is a bit like some of the probes during the Cold War.
If memory serves, the Syrian Air Force operates the Su-24MK.
Well, the rate of climb is quoted at 62,000 ft/minute.
Scripture is clear there is to be a limited war which ushers in the one world leader.. it is also noticeable that the west, particularly America, are to not be an influence. Perhaps this war will escalate to the point of a limited nuclear exchange, resulting in the demise of the US. Hopefully they will limit their attack to key military targets, dc, ny, la. And leave the rest of us alone because we clearly don’t want this war as far as the fly over country is concerned.
That’s a bit over 700 MPH- straight up. Hmmm...
Another option: Israel’s INS Hanit had an encounter with a Hezbollah C802 in ‘06. If the Hezzies have them, so do the Syrians.
The three fastest climbing jets ever, the English Electric Lightning, the MiG-25 and current MiG-31 derivative, and the F-15 Eagle, could/can climb about 50,000 feet in one minute.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.