RAF jets scrambled to intercept Russian bomber

www.timesonline.co.uk...

Not the first time this has happened recently I believe.

Why are the russians trying to intimidate us with antiquated prop bombers when they have way more ICBM nukes than all of europe put together?

A lukewarm start to a new cold war.

Edit:

Sorry, just wondered what would happen if the UK decided not to intercept in a defensive manner?

How far do you think the Russains would take it? They obviously expect an intercept. It would be interesting to see their reaction without one.

[edit on 21-8-2007 by myowncrusade]

Heres a video

news.sky.com...

they talk a bit about a photo released by the mod.

This is like the 3rd or 4th in the last few weeks that I've heard about, and people say it happens all the time but why arent they reported like they are recently?

have they all happend in the same area?? i see 2 posable games the ruskys are playing!

1, they are testing are response times, as any data they may of had is out of date, there proding to see if there is a week spot

2, this was a distraction taktic

maybe that beer was equipt with some advanced sensor equipment, ether to take a good look at the typhoon or at the ground.

Thx Andy, very interesting. Some great photo's in that video.

On one side the RAF saying "look at our new Typhoon, You wanna place bets?" and on the other the russians saying "It doesn't matter we can still get close enough with the old Bear"

Apparently this is happening at least 4 times a month.

I still think its a strange way to flex your military muscles from the Russians point of view.

Is this still considered news? Well you better get used to it.

Originally posted by myowncrusade
Why are the russians trying to intimidate us with antiquated prop bombers when they have way more ICBM nukes than all of europe put together?

That's the point. No one is trying to intimidate anyone. The bear bombers pose no realistic risk to anyone, and the interceptors understand this. It is simply an exercise - for both sides I might add - and gives bomber pilots and intercept pilots realistic practice. I bet the pilots are fond of this. Everyone is happy, regardless of how the media is treating this.

US is doing the same thing, and has been doing since the Cold War's end, when Russia was forced to stop its games due to financial matters. No one is crossing any borders, and as long as the "games" remain above international waters all is good.

If Russia really wanted to "scare" someone they would have used the Tu-160 supersonic bombers, which could not be intercepted with ease.

Originally posted by myowncrusade
A lukewarm start to a new cold war.

This is hardly a start to any type of war. If a Cold War is in the making, it is the result of the missile shield placement in Poland and Czech Republic by the US, and the dealings in Georgia and Ukraine. This is simply a restarted military exercise to test the readiness of enemy interceptors and train the bomber crews.

Originally posted by myowncrusade
Sorry, just wondered what would happen if the UK decided not to intercept in a defensive manner?

I suppose you mean that UK would decide to attack the incoming bombers/surveilance aircraft.

If it happened above international waters (even if near the border), the UK would be the aggressor, and the dispute would likely go before the UN. I doubt an order for shoot-down of the bomber would come from the command, and if some pilot gets hot headed I am sure both sides would work out an agreement short of military showdown.

If it happened above UK territorial waters or the mainland, that would be a different matter, and Russia would be considered the aggressor. Again I doubt the RAf would order to shoot down an aircraft that poses no realistic threat. Obviously in exercises such as this is important for the bomber crews to monitor where you are at all times.

Originally posted by myowncrusade
How far do you think the Russains would take it? They obviously expect an intercept. It would be interesting to see their reaction without one.

Many times they are intercepted, but not always. Whether they intercept or not probably depends on the willingness of the RAF crews, and the latest gas prices . I believe the Russia bombers fly strictly on predetermined flight paths, so they would not deviate whether intercepted or not (and why should they if they are above international waters). I doubt a lack of any intercept will entice the Russian bombers to wander further towards Britain. Although it would be pretty sweet to see a TU-95 bear above London.

Yeah this stuff happens all the time. Russian subs track US war ships also.
I was on the Saratoga and we were tracked by a Russian sub for days during the first Gulf War. The skipper kept giving us updates over the 1MC...

The military has to do something to waste our money...