US Jets Scrambled To Scare Off Russian Bomber

[Obadiah Plainman]

Is Dimitry Medvedev going to follow in his predecessors foot steps by continuing to test Americas patience?

U.S. jets scramble to turn back Russian bomber

Russian plane approached U.S. vessel during training exercises

updated 8:15 a.m. ET, Thurs., March. 6, 2008

SEOUL, South Korea - U.S. and South Korean fighter jets scrambled to turn back a Russian bomber that approached a U.S. aircraft carrier during training exercises, South Korean and U.S. officials said Thursday.

The Russian aircraft flew close to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in waters off South Korea's eastern coast Wednesday, but retreated shortly after the allied warplanes approached, an official at the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said on condition of anonymity, citing office policy......................Full MSNBC Article​

 

[LennyNero1972]

Is Dimitry Medvedev going to follow in his predecessors foot steps by continuing to test Americas patience?

​

Damn everyone is getting awfully bold all of a sudden.

 

[blackbull1970]

They been doing shit like this since the end of WW2.

Every now and then somebody posts a story about it.

Peace.

 

[QueEx]

<font size="5"><center>
Russia downplays Tu-142 flight
over U.S. aircraft carrier</font size></center>

RIA Novosti
Russian Information Agency
March 6, 2008

MOSCOW - The Russian Navy is surprised by the commotion raised in Western media over the flight of a Russian military plane in the vicinity of a U.S. aircraft carrier, the Navy spokesman said on Thursday.

Western media earlier cited U.S. officials as saying that a Russian bomber came within three to five nautical miles and flew 2,000 feet (610 meters) above the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier off the Korean coast. A similar incident occurred less than a month ago.

"Some Western media reports that called the flight of the Tu-142 plane in the vicinity of the American aircraft carrier 'an incident' are surprising," Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said.

Tu-142 Bear-F is the maritime reconnaissance/strike version of the Tu-95 Bear strategic bomber, designed mainly for anti-submarine warfare (ASW).

Dygalo said the plane, assigned to Russia's Pacific Fleet, was on a routine patrol flight over the Sea of Japan, conducted in strict compliance with international regulations on the use of airspace over neutral waters.

"It is common practice," the Navy spokesman said, adding that two U.S. F/A-18 fighters and several Japanese F-2 and F-16 accompanied the Russian ASW plane during the flight.

In February, a media storm was sparked when a Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber flew close above the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier to the south of Japan, and another circled some 50 nautical miles (93 kilometers) from the ship.

Four F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters were reportedly launched from the carrier to escort the Russian jets away from the area.

Russia resumed strategic bomber patrol flights over the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans last August, following an order signed by President Vladimir Putin. The move was widely seen as a sign of Russia's increasingly aggressive military stance.

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080306/100809284.html