MSNBC: N Korean MiGs Intercepted US Reconnaissance Plane -

MSNBC ^ | March 3, 2003

[jern]

DJ N Korean MiGs Intercepted US Reconnaissance Plane - MSNBC

03/03/2003 Dow Jones News Services (Copyright © 2003 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.)

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Military sources say as many as four North Korean MiGs intercepted a U.S. reconnaissance plane over international waters during the weekend, MSNBC reported Monday.

According to the sources, the MiGs came within 500 feet of the U.S. RC-135 plane but didn't act aggressively, MSNBC said.

The network said the incident - the first such intercept since 1969 - happened in international air space over the Korean peninsula.

- By Larry McCoy, Dow Jones Newswires; 201-938-4370

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

03-03-03 1442ET

[uncbuck]

"Are you sure it was a mistake and not FOX NEWS attempting to create a War as was done by Hurst? "

I know I'm late on this thread, but the Maine actually was sunk. It appears that this aircraft was not even shot at. It would be hard to start a war with just a report, one that would be known by the airforce before Fox news.

[TheBattman]

Report I heard was that the Korean plane actually "lit up" the American plane with it's targeting radar. If so, this would indeed be an intercept and a very agressive act.

[uncbuck]

"Fox's reporting of a plane being shot down is perhaps the most blatant example of media incompetence since Hurst Papers reported the Maine was blown-up in Havana Harbor. "

I hate to disagree, but the Maine DID blow up in Havana Harbor, and to this day, experts in modern Navy studies are not sure what caused the explosion.

[Enlightiator]

from now on, it's a steady diet of jennings, rather, and browkaw for me!

lol! I love the sarcasm - going from a channel that screws up (even amateurously) at times to channels that INTENTIONALLY and CONSISTANTLY distort the news to the point of fraud. Love your humor ;)

[glock rocks]

:o)

[Chu Gary]

"the first such intercept since 1969 - happened in international air space over the Korean peninsula.

Stay alert, their next escalation may be a Pueblo incident or taking an axe our soldiers in Panmunjom."

In 4/69, a Navy EC-121, a counterpart of the C-135 flew a track along the coast of Korea. It was based out of Atsugi, Japan. There were 31 crewmembers. They were outside any claim to territorial waters of the Kor Coms.

Two Mig 21-s (25's?) came out to greet them. I was up in the air about to land at Danang in SVN and our pilot turned on the PA; the last transmission we heard was: "we have just confirmed that we have been locked onto."

All gone.

I flew on the same plane along the coast of NVN 4 days earlier, with the same crew.

Remember PR-21.

[tenger]

Someone on another thread mentioned that the bird that they intercepted was the Cobra Ball, 135S. If that's the case, which as I think about it, they have an entirely different mission than the other birds. I only remember the Ball being used against the Russkies but I guess the target's changed these days. Actually a moving target.

Last flight of my USAF career was 19.1 hours on the Cobra Ball. Seems like eons ago.

[Tommyjo]

The Iraqi MiG-25 Foxbat that violated Saudi airspace last week was locked onto by USAF F-15s:



http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2003&dt=0303&pub=Utusan_Express&sec=World&pg=wo_06.htm

"US warplanes face down Iraqi jet in Saudi airspace
PRINCE SULTAN AIRBASE (Saudi Arabia) March 2 - U.S. warplanes were within two minutes of firing at an Iraqi Mig-25 fighter jet when it sneaked into Saudi airspace in an intensifying cat-and-mouse game between Western and Iraqi warplanes, U.S. air force pilots say.

The daring probe on Thursday by Iraq's fastest warplane - a move apparently rarely attempted since the 1991 Gulf War - indicated Baghdad was willing to take risks to test U.S.-led forces rapidly building up planes and troops in Saudi Arabia.

``He came 15-20 miles into Saudi airspace and went nose-to-nose with us at 70,000 feet,'' F-15C fighter pilot Lieutenant Colonel Matt ``Zap'' Molloy told Reuters in an interview.

``He wisely turned around when we gave him a good hard radar lock...We were two minutes away from firing an air-to-air missile in his direction,'' he said.

Saudi officials said they had no knowledge of any such incursion.

The Mig-25, codenamed Foxbat by NATO allies, is an interceptor aircraft developed for the former Soviet airforce capable of flying at three times the speed of sound. It can also be used for reconnaissance.

U.S. pilots say that in the past two months they have encountered these planes more frequently in a ``no-fly'' zone over Iraq, set up after the Gulf War, while Iraqi troop activity has also intensified.

``They are stepping it up and trying to see what's out there...listening and looking more,'' Molloy said.

``But we give them the benefit of the doubt - when threatened we have to make a difficult call, and we coordinate with coalition forces in a measured way.''

At present, coalition planes based at the Prince Sultan Airbase in Saudi Arabia are only allowed to take ``defensive'' action as part of strict rules of engagement agreed with authorities in the kingdom.

What this means is that Western planes could fire back only if under a ``continuing'' threat from Iraqi planes or missiles.

The Iraqi plane had posed a clear threat, U.S. pilots said.

As shots from the ground are normally wild and sporadic, Saudi-based U.S. warplanes just veer away when attacked, then call in jets based in Kuwait or from aircraft carriers to attack the guns on Iraqi soil.

``It's quite a dance, the rules are very strict. We don't want to act in an irrational way and we don't want to be doing anything illegal or politically untenable,'' Air Force Colonel James Moschgat, vice commander of U.S. planes patrolling a no-fly zone over southern Iraq, told Reuters.

The issue of what foreign troops on Prince Sultan Airbase, 50 miles southeast of Riyadh, will do if war with Iraq breaks out has become increasingly contentious as Washington builds up its forces in the region.

Saudi authorities have repeatedly said they are against an attack on Iraq and will not allow U.S. forces to launch any invasion of the country from their territory.

In the event of war the role of the airbase - which until recently was off limits to journalists - remains unclear.

``The real question is whether we will be able to do direct attacks from here. We will have the capability to do that from here but that option is still being discussed by our governments,'' Moschgat said.

``Our mission will be to deny Iraq offensive capability by having as robust a force as possible.''

He said U.S. and British forces at the base were being built up to ensure that in the event of war, the existing coalition would be able to patrol southern Iraqi skies round-the-clock instead of several hours a day as at present.

He added that regardless of what happened, a command and control centre at the base would probably remain in charge of all the coalition air forces in the region.

Moschgat said the number of foreign troops - mostly American - at the base had reached 7,200 from 5,000 in early January. More U.S. troops were arriving by air every other day.

The normal 90-day period for U.S. soldiers to stay was suspended in late January. The U.S. military is erecting a tent city for the extra troops and Moschgat said there would be room for 14,000 foreign soldiers when it was ready in about a week.

The base would be able to take about 200 aircraft when the buildup was complete, he added. - Reuters"

A Google search for Lt Col Molloy brings up the following.

"Matthew H. Molloy, Lt Col, USAF
A THESIS"


http://www.blackvault.com/documents/ADA391729.pdf


"U.S. MILITARY AIRCRAFT FOR SALE:
CRAFTING AN F-22 EXPORT POLICY
BY
Matthew H. Molloy, Lt Col, USAF
A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF
THE SCHOOL OF ADVANCED AIRPOWER STUDIES
FOR COMPLETION OF GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS"

[<1/1,000,000th%]

I'm even later.

The Maine sunk when it's boiler exploded, un-aided by the Spanish.

I think it's spelled "Hearst".

[uncbuck]

That is still disputed speculation. Navy department, and independent experts have recently reviewed the available information, which is surprisingly extensive considering, and have come up with an interior explosion theory AND an external explosion theory.

I forget which Naval Institute Proceedings issue from 1998 it is in, but there is an article with the latest theories.

I have no theory which I favor, but suffice it to say, the Maine blew up, and not one theory blames the Hurst Oganization for it.

The Hurst Organization DID 'bite' on the theory, like Monica on Clinton, that it was a Spanish Conspiracy, and did 'whip up' the winds of war, again like Monica on Clinton. BUT they DID NOT actually blow up the Maine.

I would also agree that Fox News is also 'hawkish'. But that does not make them 'bad people'.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

I stand corrected. Interesting.

[Tailback]

why don't these planes have fighter cover?

[Chu Gary]

"why don't these planes have fighter cover?"

Well, when you're in a flight over obviously international territory, there is no technical need for CAP. I imagine, even now, that the recon flights along the coast of China may not have CAP. When I was on recon along the coast of NVN, we didn't have it and we flew 30 miles off the coast.

[Tailback]

It surprises me that after the incident with China that there's no fighter cover even over international waters. Especially with Jong Il being such a nutcase.