Russian Bear T-95 Bombers provoke Dutch and UK Airspace

[Matador.es]

Last night, two Bear T-95 Bombers entered Dutch Airspace withouth clear intentions. They were escorted by F-16's untill they reached the UK.

http://www.nu.nl/binnenland/2427006/...ept-f-16s.html

Google translate MinDefReport: http://translate.google.nl/translate...che_toestellen

http://www.thefullwiki.org/Tupolev_Tu-95

It has become a recent habit of the Russians to test the combat readiness within the EU. They fly around Norway and then head south over the North Sea.

When i just googled for an English news article on it i just saw they also visited Canada lately. The other news reports for Europe date back to 2007.

Does anybody have any comments of what they actually try to achieve? Or is itr just a bully?

I say, lets test the Patriots on some else then Scud heading to Israel (1990-1992)

[Herr-Berbunch]

Bears have regularly headed toward UK airspace for decades (but always in the press), the regularity did dip somewhat in the 90's but has been picking up again since Putin arrived in power in '99. I do find it strange about heading for NL though, not a massive airspace to play with!

And it's just testing responses, seeing how far they can go before having a jet pull up alongside for a photo or two. Also they in turn photo the jets that appear. It is just a big game really, and all is well as long as it remains just a game.

[Feuer Frei!]

Nothing to see here.
This game has been goin on for a long time. They do it to us, we do it to them.
Flying (in) to the outskirts of another Nation's air space is nothing new.

[Oberon]

Herr-B is spot on, it's an old game, and it's good for the defending country to test out its rapid response force. Our Tornados and Eurofighters at Leuchars and Coningsby have been busy in the past few years. In turn the P3s and other aircraft that snoop around the Russian borders often attract a MiG or two. I saw a photo once of a MiG-29 (I think it was a 29)'s tail clipping the prop of a P3 and getting it shredded. Sadly, I've been unable to locate it again, having lost it years ago.

It's all generally pretty friendly stuff though, I've read that on the interceptors over Alaska and Guam the Russians will often show the US what they're reading (one was reading the Washington Times ) or hold up cans of Coke.

I wonder if the old AGIs still operate though, the old Russian 'Fishing trawler's that used to follow CVBGs everywhere they went. I'd be very surprised if they didn't.


EDIT:

The only reason there are bear bombers over Europe is because, as everyone knows, in Soviet Russia bombers intercept you.

[Matador.es]

Originally Posted by Oberon

I wonder if the old AGIs still operate though, the old Russian 'Fishing trawler's that used to follow CVBGs everywhere they went. I'd be very surprised if they didn't.

I am not sure what you mean precise, but one thing is still a fact, half of the Russian cargo (commercial) ships that sail around the world have an incredible amount of antenna's and com stuff. More then any other normal ship.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by UnderseaLcpl

The only reason there are bear bombers over Europe is because, as everyone knows, in Soviet Russia bombers intercept you.

Well Duh, why do you think the Bear has guns on it!

Originally Posted by Oberon

Herr-B is spot on, it's an old game, and it's good for the defending country to test out its rapid response force. Our Tornados and Eurofighters at Leuchars and Coningsby have been busy in the past few years. In turn the P3s and other aircraft that snoop around the Russian borders often attract a MiG or two. I saw a photo once of a MiG-29 (I think it was a 29)'s tail clipping the prop of a P3 and getting it shredded. Sadly, I've been unable to locate it again, having lost it years ago.

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_287.shtml

I wonder if the old AGIs still operate though, the old Russian 'Fishing trawler's that used to follow CVBGs everywhere they went. I'd be very surprised if they didn't.

I don't doubt it, I know the Chinese and North Koreans do.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Well Duh, why do you think the Bear has guns on it!

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_287.shtml

I don't doubt it, I know the Chinese and North Koreans do.

That's most likely the incident but there was a different photo, full colour and quite clear, taken at the exact moment of the incident from a nearby aircraft.

I'm pretty sure it was a P-3 and an Su-27 or MiG-29. It had the title on it "A close intercept".

[Herr-Berbunch]

Originally Posted by Oberon

I wonder if the old AGIs still operate though, the old Russian 'Fishing trawler's that used to follow CVBGs everywhere they went.

I think that role has been outsourced to Chinese subs now

Edit: Sorry, I did type this ages ago but have been busy at work and have only just pressed the button! I'm honestly not just copying TLAM.

[Castout]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Bears have regularly headed toward UK airspace for decades (but always in the press), the regularity did dip somewhat in the 90's but has been picking up again since Putin arrived in power in '99. I do find it strange about heading for NL though, not a massive airspace to play with!

And it's just testing responses, seeing how far they can go before having a jet pull up alongside for a photo or two. Also they in turn photo the jets that appear. It is just a big game really, and all is well as long as it remains just a game.

it's more than just a game if a nation violates another nation airspace with no less than one or two long range strategic bombers.

It's one thing to trespass another nation airspace with a fighter such as the MiG-29 r Su-27 but it's a completely whole new level of game when one tries to do the same with a long range strategic bomber.

It's what I would call efforts to make threats. Try to imagine one or two flying over New York airspace :-)

As to why the reason must definitely be political or even perhaps only related to Russia's domestic policy. Perhaps some people are trying to gain legitimacy or support by this show of belligerent acts. Perhaps to appease some hardliners still in the Russia armed forces or just to raise moral. Whatever it was it was a political message which only the recipient could fully understand.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Castout

it's more than just a game if a nation violates another nation airspace with no less than one or two long range strategic bombers.

It's one thing to trespass another nation airspace with a fighter such as the MiG-29 r Su-27 but it's a completely whole new level of game when one tries to do the same with a long range strategic bomber.

Not really, MiG-29s and Su-27s can carry nuclear payloads just as easy as a Bear.

Plus there is a huge difference between a Bear-A/B/G/H and Bear-D/E/F. Just because its based on a strategic bomber does not make it one.

[Krauter]

Was just going to point that out... Aren't their only strategic bombers these days the Tu-22/24 Blinder/Backfire and the Tu-160 (can't remember NATO name for it, but it's similar to the B-1).?

Also, I thought the only remaining Bears the Russians have are Maritime Reconnaissance and ELINT Birds?

[ETR3(SS)]

Originally Posted by Krauter

Was just going to point that out... Aren't their only strategic bombers these days the Tu-22/24 Blinder/Backfire and the Tu-160 (can't remember NATO name for it, but it's similar to the B-1).?

Blackjack.

[TLAM Strike]

Originally Posted by Krauter

Was just going to point that out... Aren't their only strategic bombers these days the Tu-22/24 Blinder/Backfire and the Tu-160 (can't remember NATO name for it, but it's similar to the B-1).?

Tu-160 'BLACKJACK'

Also, I thought the only remaining Bears the Russians have are Maritime Reconnaissance and ELINT Birds?

No there is the Tu-95MS a Kh-55 missile carrier.

The Bear F and J will soon be retired leaving just the missile carriers.

[Castout]

Originally Posted by TLAM Strike

Not really, MiG-29s and Su-27s can carry nuclear payloads just as easy as a Bear.

Plus there is a huge difference between a Bear-A/B/G/H and Bear-D/E/F. Just because its based on a strategic bomber does not make it one.

Sure Su-27 or MiG-29 could carry bombs or even nuclear bombs but as this is a political maneuver the effect would not be as much as when you send a Tu-95 Bear. If it was a military move no ordnance was released and no target was hit. Tu-95 Bear would not violate another nation airspace other than from direct orders from superior to do just that.

And you're right that there are significant configuration and role differences between all the variants of bear but how does one suppose to know which is which from the radar blip or from 5 km away? The threat might not be real but the distress it might have caused for a few minutes sure is.

Reading this thread made me want to fire up DW with DWX and fly that Bear

[Krauter]

Very true Castout.

I was refering to this picture TLAM.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tu...arade_2008.jpg

Edit: I stand corrected, it would seem the Tu-95 in that photo is being refuelled, not refuelling the other aircraft.