U.S.: Russian planes flew near California, Guam, in upped activity

a reply to: crazyewok
The USSR didn't collapse because of it's increasing military spending - that is a common myth especially among people who want to credit Reagan and Starwars with being the proximate cause of the collapse.

the collapse of the USSR was a many-headed beast - failure in Afghanistan, continued nationalist ambitions of non-Russian minorities (who combined were over 50% of the population!), inadequacy of the centrally planned economy overall resulting in long slow economic decline are the 3 main themes most sources quote.

Afghanistan did over-strain their military, including its budget, and certainly US support of the mujahidin there contributed to that.

originally posted by: Aloysius the Gaul
a reply to: WarminIndy

Bluster.

Russia only has a handful of long range bombers that are no significant threat to anyone. they started trying to fly them a bit more often 3-4 years ago as was reported at the time.

the old Tu-95 turboprops are marvels of aerospace engineering - but also death traps in case of any significant air defence being present.

the Tu-160's are much more modern and capable, but only 36 were ever built, many were experimental a/c, and between 2008-2013 numbers in service were reported as being between 4 and 16.

the Russians have apparently contacted to produce 1 new one every 2 years (yes - every TWO YEARS) until they have 30 available.

Yeah...there really isn't any credible conventional air force in the world that can put up a sustained war with the US. I'm sorry, but it's just simply the case. I'm not saying they wouldn't be able to make an alpha strike somewhere, and then pull everything back, after they had done a ton of damage. However, a conventional air war over a period of weeks, months, or years is a no-go. It simply can't be sustained against the US, and it's territories.

End of story.