Russian Su-27 intercept P-3 Orion aircraft over the Baltic Sea

[ikalugin]

Note a fairly light combat load.

[Betonov]

I had a Revell model of a Flanker once.
It was shot down by a D.O.G missile

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by ikalugin

Note a fairly light combat load.

Not sure I'd call that light looks like two short range and 4 BVR that's a pretty decent CAP loadout right there in fact the Sukoi has nearly every weapons station loaded. Only thing not loaded are the wing tip stations and the station under each intake.

Id say that's the typical Russian Air Force CAP loadout.
Unless you where being sarcastic.

[mapuc]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

Not sure I'd call that light looks like two short range and 4 BVR that's a pretty decent CAP loadout right there in fact the Sukoi has nearly every weapons station loaded. Only thing not loaded are the wing tip stations and the station under each intake.

Id say that's the typical Russian Air Force CAP loadout.
Unless you where being sarcastic.

I guess it depend on the country

Denmark- machine gun and two sidewinder per plane

Sweden- If I remember correctly it is the same as in Denmark.

Markus

[Stealhead]

It depends on the aircraft as well an F-16 (Denmark) might carry two missiles on the tips which can be either sidewinder or AMRAAM and the typical NATO CAP for a Viper is usually two AMRAAM on tips two sidewinder on outer most hard points and two drop tanks on the inner hard points an alternate is x4 sidewinders and tanks. A common light loadout is two tip sidewinders and a centerline drop tank.

For other mission it will be two tip missiles(depending upon mission plan and expected threats) and ATG munitions on the other hard points subtracting two for drop tanks which for the sake of optimum fuel efficacy allows for two ATG muntions. With the F-16 in most cases the preferred tip mount is the AMRAAM just more versatility over a sidewinder. Not every Viper user has AMRAAM capability but the RDAF ones do. Again there can be lots of variation depending on mission plans.
In Afghanistan the typical Viper load was 500x 20mm shells x2 tip missile either aim-9 or 120 two drop tanks and a JADAM on one hard point on the opposite hard point typically was a LGB both bombs usually where 500 pounders this loadout allowed for optimum flexibility and loiter time as typically they would fly a patrol as an element (two aircraft) and respond to calls for support.

Not overly familaur with the Gripen to know the typical Swedish loadout for a CAP would be. Now the Flanker more than likely had no drop tanks having more than likely been scrambled from Kaliningrad thus not a flight distance requiring the use of drop tanks.

[sharkbit]

Wonder where the Flanker's partner was?

Check 6 Orion?

[Stealhead]

I'm guessing with in a few miles covering six while the lead made the pass. I would say that the point was to display armament and ability to be present to intercept. The Russians do the same in TU-95s and A-50s and get met by various NATO aircraft including ironically enough Polish Mig-29 and Romainan Mig-21s. Been going on in the Baltic since 2004 or so.

The NATO end of this effort is lead by the Portuguese at the moment with various other NATO AF taking part. The "lead" nation rotates every six months or so. It always includes some Baltic forces. Czech,Danish, Spanish, British to name a few all take part and it is constant only the lead nation rotates to share the cost.

Its called Baltic Air Policing(BAP). Currently along with Portugal German,Dutch and Canadian squadrons are taking part.

[Oberon]

At least it wasn't the Norwegians...



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