Russian planes again fly over U.S. Navy ships

Russian planes again fly over U.S. Navy ships

edition.cnn.com

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Russian military aircraft flew just 500 feet over two U.S. Navy ships this week as the ships participated in a joint military exercise with South Korea in the Sea of Japan, according to U.S. military officials.

(visit the link for the full news article)

On Monday, two Russian Ilyushin IL-38 maritime patrol aircraft, known as "Mays," overflew the U.S. aircraft carrier Stennis while it was in international waters in the Sea of Japan.

The Russian aircraft flew about 500 feet over the ship, lower than other flights the Russians have made over U.S. ships in the past year.

Well that's quite a brave move, the article says that on this occasion (and the other similar one a while back with the Bears) the US ship tried to contact the ruskie aircraft on international air frequency radio channels but did not get a response.

This happened just off South Korea... So nothing at all to do with the upcoming N Korea launch ( )

Now forgive me if I'm wrong but arn't carrier's and the support vessles that accompanies them supposed to take down any thing threatening wwwaaaayyy before they do a 'jolly' 500 foot above your flight deck?? - yes I know f-18's were up in the air right with the Russians... But no contact at all? This could of been a surprise strategy of a suicide attack (nuke?)

Any way's just thought I'd post it.



edition.cnn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

They key is they didn't feel it was a true threat so they didn't act. And thank goodness they didn't or we would have started a big war.

It seems that ever since the new administration has taken over, everyone is really testing our resolve. The Chinese harass a US Navy sub-hunter, and now Russian Air Force is playing with AIRCRAFT CARRIERS!!!

I think that the foreign powers are trying to see how far they can push the US until the US pushes back. Unfortunately, I don't think that the "commander in chief" has any Cojones to actually stand up to anyone.

Well the Ilyushin IL-38 is used as a sub hunter... Maybe that's got something to do with it. Carrier groups are blatant power... Subs are quite the opposite.

Proper posturing going on here - Let's all watch Obama! See what he does when he gets pushed around.

Originally posted by finemanm
It seems that ever since the new administration has taken over, everyone is really testing our resolve. The Chinese harass a US Navy sub-hunter, and now Russian Air Force is playing with AIRCRAFT CARRIERS!!!

I think that the foreign powers are trying to see how far they can push the US until the US pushes back. Unfortunately, I don't think that the "commander in chief" has any Cojones to actually stand up to anyone.

They test every president. Remember the US surveillance plane that China held along with its crew? It is guaranteed that the POTUS will show some major stones. It's been about two months, 46 more months to go.

reply to post by finemanm


Thats the problem fireman, and I mean that because I think that by having him in office, only enhances our risk for getting attacked. Everyone out there is willing to test us, because they know Obama has no kind of experience with these kinds of things. If I wanted to pick a fight with someone, and I wanted to be made sure I won, I would pick a fight with someone I knew that didnt have the knowledge to fight back effectively.
I think that we still do have the very best military in the world, and we do have some of the most hardened Marines and soldiers ready to do whats neccessary, but I dont believe that the commander in chief really knows wtf he is doing. For that reason, I think that people are going to want to start something with us, and that in turn makes us volnerable. Im no Bush fan, but since he was in office, did you see anyone doing these things to us? No. If it did, it was very rare. Now it seems everyone wants to take a shot at us. I dont like this at all. Im really suprised our Navy didnt act on this, blows my mind. The russians could have takin out a couple of those carriers if they really wanted to. Not good.

The IL-38s were escorted by 4xF-18s, and yes they did fly-over the whole task group but they didn't pose a threat what so ever. If they were fighters AirCrafts then it would've been a whole different story.

Whether they are testing the task group or not, no one knows. The entire China Sea and other seas around it have been pretty hectic lately, if it has anything to do with the North Korean Satellite launch, the NK knows they are being watched.

As for allowing the IL-38s come this close, well someone allowed this to happen, why? That is the question!

As for allowing them to get this close?? What would you guys have them do, shoot them down because they were looking at our carrier?

Sorry but it doesn't work that way. An aircraft carrier is STILL in International waters/airspace. There is nothing that says you can't fly over them unless it's a time of war.

I hate to tell you guys but this has been going on for DECADES. The only odd thing here is that they aren't responding on radio. The last time this happened was the USS Nimitz in February of 2008. Prior to that Kittyhawk. Before that it was about every month or so. And guess how many of those were shot down? Even during the height of the cold war.

Anybody? Anybody?

Originally posted by Zaphod58
Anybody? Anybody?

None! Do I get a prize?

By the way, those Russian aircraft flying out of bases in and around Vladivostok were detected as soon as they got airborne by U.S. radar facilities in Northern Japan. If there was a E-2 in the air then they were detected as soon as they went engines hot. As Zaphod said, it is not unusual. Unless we're in a war in that part of the world or with Russia then we have no real reason to shoot it down.

[edit on 19-3-2009 by WestPoint23]

I don't see anything in the way of Russian feedback, denial, or no comment. Could as well have been the US flying Russian built aircraft in pursuit of a media campaign-or China flying them for that matter-to stir things up between the two of them.

I just can't buy things at face value. What does Russia have to say?

Overflights of task groups and carriers in international waters by patrol planes used to happen all the time. The game is to see when detection and intercept occurs. There is nothing particularly threatening about it although opening the bomb bay doors would have caused a problem. Everyone knows the rules so that chances of anything happening that would trigger a conflict are minimal.
The May's were also photographing everything in sight to get a ship count and disposition and for comparison with previous photos of the same ships to look for mods.

reply to post by HugmyRek


This isn't Saturday morning cartoons. You don't build a Russian aircraft out of plywood and slap on a Russian Air Force roundel, overfly a carrier for giggles, and call it a day.

These are professionals on both sides, they know the rules of game, so to speak. China might want to take notice of how it's done if they want to venture out past the playground.


[edit on 19-3-2009 by WestPoint23]

reply to post by HugmyRek


So China or US pilots are flying out of Vladivostok now? The aircraft were picked up on radar from take off out of their airfields. RUSSIAN airfields.

Yes our armed forces will be tested over and over again and especially with the obama administration running things and showing weakness. Russia and China smell weakness coming from the obama administration and with no more orders of the F-22 because of cut backs it gets real scarey to me.

It is hard to keep policing the world when our country is truely broke and bailing out broke banks at the same time. Let me see Broke+Broke=Broke

Originally posted by finemanm

I think that the foreign powers are trying to see how far they can push the US until the US pushes back. Unfortunately,I don't think that the "commander in chief" has any Cojones to actually stand up to anyone.

I've highlighted the most pertinent part of your post.


I think you guys are lucky to have Obama as your President and should be grateful that he's not jumping the gun regarding the rhetoric of threats etc.
This occurred in international waters, there's no real reason for them not to do it, particularly when it is closer to Russia, and China, than the land o' apple pie and greed

I'll warrant that Obama has bigger Cojones than you.

[edit on 19-3-2009 by aorAki]

[edit on 19-3-2009 by aorAki]

This has nothing to do with testing the administration. This was going on even more during the Reagan years, and he was considered a very strong president. The Russians have been gathering intel on our carrier groups, just like we gather intel on their subs and surface groups for decades. It's a way to find out what has changed on the ships, and what's new.

I just have one question, what international "greeting" signs were exchanged!? I'm sure some of the Bugs were two seaters, leaving the guy in the back 70 miles to come up with something.

[edit on 19-3-2009 by WestPoint23]

reply to post by WestPoint23


For years it was Playboy. I'm not sure what they're exchanging now. I used to love hearing stories of Eagle drivers taking the magazines up with them and holding the centerfold against the canopy for the Bear pilots.

reply to post by Zaphod58


I have seen video of that on the net somewhere and I wish I could find it. Even though his face is obscured by the helmet you could see the Eagle driver was enjoying his ass off.