Posted on 02/19/2015 10:07:37 AM PST by Smartisan
Today, the Russian Tu-142 fleet have been heavily upgraded into a full ELINT/SIGINT platform, and are often seen flying in the North and Baltic Seas and near Japan on intelligence gathering missions. In fact, the very fact the planes have a quite high radar cross section due to the big turboprop engine blades makes it ideal to test Western reaction the presence of these planes.
I’d suggest that the speculative sighting over inland Cornwall was probably actually one of the new Airbus 400 transports, which are just coming into service with the RAF. Some superficial similarities - high swept wing, four turboprops - the only other plane with that configuration, I think. I’m not far away in Devon, and I’ve had several sightings here.
True indeed. Good points.
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