US intercepts Russian bombers, fighter jets off the coast of Alaska

Washington (CNN)US F-22 stealth jets intercepted four Russian bombers and two Russian Su-35 fighter jets off the coast of Alaska on Monday, according to a statement from North American Aerospace Defense Command.

The Russian nuclear capable long-range bombers flew into the Air Defense Identification Zone, which extends approximately 200 miles off Alaska's western coast.

Link to news article



Always nice to see these air to air photos of these Russian aircraft.

It seems that the Ruski's are far more active in these kinds of flights near Canadian/America shores or in Europe - north sea region.

Of course, Russia has the right to fly there, but then again it is clear their intentions. These craft fly without their transponder so they aren't visual on the civil radar, So that makes it actually less innocent and actually dangerous in airspace where civil aircraft zip around.

Replace "Russian" with "Soviet" and you'll see decades of this sort of behavior.

http://www.airforcemag.com/MagazineArch ... -Bear.aspx

Why do they even bother turning off their transponders when those propellers light up the radar screens in both Alaska and Canada?

P1aneMad wrote:

Why do they even bother turning off their transponders when those propellers light up the radar screens in both Alaska and Canada?

To prove a 'point', the jet bombers do the same, like TU-22M, TU-160.

Dutchy wrote:

US intercepts Russian bombers, fighter jets off the coast of Alaska

Washington (CNN)US F-22 stealth jets intercepted four Russian bombers and two Russian Su-35 fighter jets off the coast of Alaska on Monday, according to a statement from North American Aerospace Defense Command.

The Russian nuclear capable long-range bombers flew into the Air Defense Identification Zone, which extends approximately 200 miles off Alaska's western coast.

Always nice to see these air to air photos of these Russian aircraft.

It seems that the Ruski's are far more active in these kinds of flights near Canadian/America shores or in Europe - north sea region.

Of course, Russia has the right to fly there, but then again it is clear their intentions. These craft fly without their transponder so they aren't visual on the civil radar, So that makes it actually less innocent and actually dangerous in airspace where civil aircraft zip around.

At the end of the Cold War Russia essentially stopped these missions but they started up again about five years ago and have continued ever since.

Ozair wrote:

At the end of the Cold War Russia essentially stopped these missions but they started up again about five years ago and have continued ever since.

They've been doing it far longer than 5 years...

checksixx wrote:

Ozair wrote:

At the end of the Cold War Russia essentially stopped these missions but they started up again about five years ago and have continued ever since.

They've been doing it far longer than 5 years...

How time flies. Yes you are correct, the Russians started up again in 2007.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europ ... index.html

Hey cool! They got 4 Bears airborne all at the same time! See them again same time next month.

Would be pretty great if a C-17 could receive a call out to intercept them instead of the 22s. Would love to see a shot of one alongside them along with a close up of their reaction.

DigitalSea wrote:

Would be pretty great if a C-17 could receive a call out to intercept them instead of the 22s. Would love to see a shot of one alongside them along with a close up of their reaction.

And how is a C-17 going to take off, climb and reach a TU-95 flying at high altitude and cruise speed?
By the time it´s there, the Bear is back over central Siberia

On a Facebook page about Cold War Aircraft I´ve seen a cool composite picture of a TU-95 being escorted by different American aircrafts in different decades:
F-106, F-4, F-14, F-15, F-22. The only thing that stayed the same was the Bear

Need some new F-15s up there in Alaska.

Maybe using a B-52 to intercept next time!

hmmwv wrote:

Maybe using a B-52 to intercept next time!

There's photos online of them getting chased down by A-7s so anything's possible with the right intercept vectors.

They're probably just upset we didn't invite them to our exercise earlier this month~

https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=109592




StudeDave

This kind of stuff has been happening on and off for decades. It's nothing new. Here's a pretty cool video from the 80's or 90's about American and Russian encounters in this region. It seems that both the Russian and American crews got a real kick out of it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMb9OmXDj4g

US Fighter pilots aren't the only ones getting a little training, Russia intercepts US aircraft from time to time as well.

https://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/06/poli ... index.html

I don't think the US does it as frequently as the Russians, could be wrong though.

During the 90's these types of missions from Russia basically went down to 0 as they didn't have the money, however they have steadely increased in the last 10 years and Norwegian and British fighter aircraft have to scramble to intercept. However we are still far, far away from the number of scrambles during the Cold war. Problem today is that the Russians fly without their transponders on and far more agressively.

Norwegian F-16's had a close encounter with a Su-27 Flanker:



Photo: Royal Norwegian air force

Norwegian F-16 and Russian Tu-95 and Il-78



Photo: Royal Norwegian air force


Norwegian F-16 and Russian SU-34 Fullback



Photo: Royal Norwegian air force


Russian Midas tanker and Mig 31 "Foxhound" bombers



Photo: Royal Norwegian air force

Norwegian F-16 and two Russian Tu-160 Belyy Lebed ( White Swan )



Photo: Royal Norwegian air force

foxhound bombers? wanna see them with free falling bombs.

So what happen if a Russian aircraft(s) that was being shadowed flew into that nation's airspace. If it didn't turn around would it be somehow forced down?

dfwjim1 wrote:

So what happen if a Russian aircraft(s) that was being shadowed flew into that nation's airspace. If it didn't turn around would it be somehow forced down?

Forced to turn / down or as a last resort shot down. Why do you ask ?

dfwjim1 wrote:

So what happen if a Russian aircraft(s) that was being shadowed flew into that nation's airspace. If it didn't turn around would it be somehow forced down?

It would be extremely unprofessional and embarrassing if they did this. The US & Russia may poke and prod one another, but that's kind of an unspoken line neither would cross. Nevermind the fact that it wouldn't accomplish anything but serving the nation whose airspace you'd be penetrating.

Mortyman wrote:

dfwjim1 wrote:

So what happen if a Russian aircraft(s) that was being shadowed flew into that nation's airspace. If it didn't turn around would it be somehow forced down?

Forced to turn / down or as a last resort shot down. Why do you ask ?

Just curious...

DigitalSea wrote:

dfwjim1 wrote:

So what happen if a Russian aircraft(s) that was being shadowed flew into that nation's airspace. If it didn't turn around would it be somehow forced down?

It would be extremely unprofessional and embarrassing if they did this. The US & Russia may poke and prod one another, but that's kind of an unspoken line neither would cross. Nevermind the fact that it wouldn't accomplish anything but serving the nation whose airspace you'd be penetrating.

Not sure about unprofessional and embarrassing, but... seems reality in many cases. Some examples:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-finl ... SKBN1DZ16S
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_St ... viet_Union
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ ... eden-24687

hmmwv wrote:

Maybe using a B-52 to intercept next time!

No, those are flying into Russia border area's , exercising their right to fly in this internation airspace.

https://www.polygraph.info/a/b52-intercepted-russian-jets-fact-check/29836853.html

These don't really hit the headlines, do they?

keesje wrote:

hmmwv wrote:

Maybe using a B-52 to intercept next time!

No, those are flying into Russia border area's , exercising their right to fly in this internation airspace.

https://www.polygraph.info/a/b52-intercepted-russian-jets-fact-check/29836853.html

These don't really hit the headlines, do they?

I’m sure they make headlines in Russia.

These flights from both sides seem a waste of resources. What purpose do they serve?

Planeflyer wrote:

keesje wrote:

hmmwv wrote:

Maybe using a B-52 to intercept next time!

No, those are flying into Russia border area's , exercising their right to fly in this internation airspace.

https://www.polygraph.info/a/b52-intercepted-russian-jets-fact-check/29836853.html

These don't really hit the headlines, do they?

I’m sure they make headlines in Russia.

These flights from both sides seem a waste of resources. What purpose do they serve?

Testing each others readiness, air crews have to train anyway, so if you don't overdo it, it is fine.

Ok sounds reasonable assuming the bombers are flying w/o weapons. Anyone no for sure on this?

Planeflyer wrote:

Ok sounds reasonable assuming the bombers are flying w/o weapons. Anyone no for sure on this?

I'm betting they are flying with a full weapon load. Otherwise what's the point? During the cold war they certainly were.

MatthewDB wrote:

Planeflyer wrote:

Ok sounds reasonable assuming the bombers are flying w/o weapons. Anyone no for sure on this?

I'm betting they are flying with a full weapon load. Otherwise what's the point? During the cold war they certainly were.

Could you cite your sources?

I can guarantee, there are no weapons loaded, other than chaff and flares. The Chrome Dome missions ended in 68, those missions were flown with a full SIOP load. Each mission was 24 hours.