Russian - UK 'Airspace Games...'

a reply to: tommyjo

There was a recent flight that entered Dutch airspace, but it was so close to the line that if you blinked you missed it.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: tommyjo

There was a recent flight that entered Dutch airspace, but it was so close to the line that if you blinked you missed it.

I remember that. The slight incursion over the sea took place in 2014. The following is the news report quoting the Dutch military.

Maj. Wilko Ter Horst said that the military learned around 3:50 p.m. (9:50 a.m. ET) that two Russian TU-95 bombers, known as Bears, had come a half-mile inside its airspace.A pair of Dutch F-16 military jets were then dispatched to escort the Russian planes and "ensure they (flew) out of our airspace," said Ter Horst, a Dutch military spokesman.

edition.cnn.com...

a reply to: Zaphod58

The following should be of interest? It is from a Dutch radio enthusiast who recorded a 2009 Dutch Quick Reaction Alert Scramble for two Russian Tu-95MS Bear Hs in the North Sea. The Bears got nice and close allowing their VHF/UHF comms chat to be picked up.

05:46 is the portion of the audio where the Russians can be first heard. The main part is the Royal Netherlands Air Force scramble of their F-16s. They also mention that Danish and British fighters are in contact or have scrambled.

09:14 onwards you can hear the aircrew on the Bears chat about the RAF Tornado.

www.milspotters.nl...

a reply to: tommyjo

Nice! That'll make a fun listen.

a reply to: ukmicky1980

I've just checked Flight Radar and surprise, surprise the Royal Air Force Voyager tanker that supported the RAF fighters flew directly over that region and down the A30. Simply a case of poor aircraft recognition.

Snapshot from Flight Radar 24 of the Voyager in the vicinity of Eval.

a reply to: tommyjo

BBC News posted this today.

m.bbc.com...

Interestingly it appears the mission was supported by an Il-80. They've been escorted by them before but this is the first time in several months its come with them.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Would I be right in thinking that the il80 is the Russian equivalent to the Awacs E3/E4 aircraft?

What would be the purpose of it accompanying the Bears? other than as part of a training flight possibly?

a reply to: ukmicky1980

AWACS doubles as an ELINT platform. The only thing better at it is a dedicated platform, which Russia only has in limited numbers.

It gives them training on in flight refueling, over water navigation, command and control, ELINT, as well as tracking other aircraft.

What are the il-80s capabilities zaphod is it not more of a command platform? Can it be used for electronic warfare etc?

a reply to: sg1642

Not a lot is known about them honestly. The nearest equivalent is the E-4B. Four aircraft were delivered, it's thought around 1987. They're based on the Il-86 and flown by the 8th Special Purposes Aviation Division. One has been seen parked with engines removed, indicating it may no longer be in service.

I'd reckon having that kind of platform flying with a Bear would mean it was being used to build up a more detailed picture of the UK response and to send a message. 'We're watching you'

I can only imagine the Russian response if America flew a B52 and an AWACS over their territory.

a reply to: sg1642

I would assume being a C&C platform it could at least gather radio signals of not a full up ELINT platform. So yeah it would give them a good picture of radio chatter during the intercept.

Too many of our bombers came back with holes in them when we used them for recon. That's why we went with dedicated platforms like the RC-135. A bomber off your coast could be an attack. An unarmed 707 based platform on the other hand is less likely to cause a knee jerk reaction.

a reply to: ukmicky1980

They were quite possibly scouting Nancekuke, with the view to dropping a Daisy Cutter on it.

a reply to: VigiliaProcuratio

Why? They have supersonic missiles that would be more effective than flying over the base to drop bombs on it.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Okay, I was exaggerating about bombing it but considering that base is producing sarin it's kinda strange. They weren't far away from it at all.
 

a reply to: VigiliaProcuratio

its a remotely operated station, Sarin was produced between 1954 & 1956.



Link

a reply to: VigiliaProcuratio

That's another aspect of the mission. It's gathering data on all kinds of things, not just the response to them, but everything they can get.

a reply to: ukmicky1980

They are still producing it and there are purportedly around 3,000 staff under the airfield.
 

a reply to: VigiliaProcuratio

Any links for further reading on that?