Russian military planes 'disrupted UK aviation'

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Skybird

I really wonder what should be demonstrated, trained, proven or tested by flights like this, into such locations. In case of a big war with Russia - heavy bombers trying to survive making it to the channel..? C'mon. In wartimes, they would be intercepted far, far away from 6 mile zones - they would get shot down as early and far away as possible. Maybe even already on the Russian side of the frontline.

The Channel is not the Eastern Baltic or the North Cape.

True that but they can carry the AS-15 Kent which has a range of 3000km meaning interceptions would need to be made in a timely fashion and a long way from home shores.

[Skybird]

Originally Posted by Jimbuna

True that but they can carry the AS-15 Kent which has a range of 3000km meaning interceptions would need to be made in a timely fashion and a long way from home shores.

That is the point, there is no reason for sending heavy bombers that far into the focus of the enemy's air defence. When the Kent can be fired from 3000m away, why sending its launching platform into the Irish Sea or the Channel? If you want to disrupt shipping in the channel, you can do so by firing your Kents from even southwest of the Azores! For tracking low flying incoming cruise missiles, different radars are used than those by which you track high flying big bombers.

It's all theatre. Schroeder's point number one probably is the most matching explanation. Boys talk about penis lengths, autocratic state leaders compare the length of their missile hulls instead.

And Putin by now imo has become a hunted by his own policies. He cannot stop it and change his course now anymore, even if he wants. Loss of face and credibility in his people's eyes would be far too dangerous for him. This is dangerous, for it means the confrontational policy of Russia by now has become a self-dynamic that can no longer be influenced by argument and reason, but follows its own, highly riskful logic.

[Jimbuna]

The latter part of the above is what I find of most concern

[ikalugin]

Originally Posted by Skybird

And Putin by now imo has become a hunted by his own policies. He cannot stop it and change his course now anymore, even if he wants. Loss of face and credibility in his people's eyes would be far too dangerous for him. This is dangerous, for it means the confrontational policy of Russia by now has become a self-dynamic that can no longer be influenced by argument and reason, but follows its own, highly riskful logic.

I think it is more about lack of mutually acceptable terms.