Russian - UK 'Airspace Games...'

a reply to: ScientificRailgun

These flights started long before sanctions. They were constant until 1989 or 1990. Them they stopped until the early 2000s when they started again and have been pretty constant since.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Really? That's news to me. You're the aviation guy though and I trust your insight. Have the flights penetrated deeper into airspaces only recently? I'm curious why news would be reporting on it if it's been going on since the 2000's.

a reply to: ScientificRailgun

I'm curious why news would be reporting on it if it's been going on since the 2000's.

Because it is propaganda.

a reply to: Dabrazzo

How is this thread 'State Sponsored'??

The intention of this thread was to stimulate discussion on the 'why's' and 'what if's' of the Russian fly around's.

My opening post clearly states that Russia, or any country for that matter has every right to fly in international airspace. The direction I hoped the thread would go in was the 'how prepared is the UK' and the political chess being played out in our skies.

Theres no propaganda motive (from me anyway) in the posting of this thread.

a reply to: ScientificRailgun

Slow news day. The only time they're reported on is during slow news periods.

No, they don't penetrate father than the ADIZ. They're designed to measure response times, communications frequencies, radar data, etc.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Ahhhh, so could it really be a not so subtle propaganda piece to make people fearful of the scary Russian bear?

If so, I fell for it face first. How embarrassing!

a reply to: ukmicky1980


In response to how well prepared the UK is - Not very.

In terms of fighter aircraft, we now have the fewest aircraft in service than at any time in the RAF's history, including the disarmament period of the twenties and thirties that are now seen as foolish. There are only two active fighter bases in the UK, and they could be taken out pretty quickly. The Typhoon is a great aircraft and could certainly meet and seriously damage a wave of bombers, but if they came back?.........

a reply to: Zaphod58

nvm !

Mod Note

The Off Topic posts need to stop.

This topic is Russian flight incursions near NATO borders. Please discuss that instead of each other.

Do not reply to this post.

I wonder what would happen if the bombers did stray into UK airspace..... would we shoot and risk real trouble, or would we let it go and risk real trouble?

a reply to: ScientificRailgun

Everyone does it, but it only gets attention when Russian planes do it on slow news days, or do something stupid intercepting our flights. Otherwise they're ignored because they are routine.

a reply to: blackrabbit1

They technically are in UK airspace when they're intercepted. The ADIZ is the start of owned airspace.

But no, unless they do something hostile they'll get escorted out and the diplomatic fight will get ugly.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Thanks so much for clarifying. I feel a little cheated that I fell for what I feel is a propaganda piece. I'm a big enough girl to admit when I'm wrong, and I was wrong here. Do you know of any specific events flights intercepting? I'm interested in knowing more about this.

a reply to: ScientificRailgun

There are a lot of them. In fact a video just came out, probably from this one, that was filmed from the Tu-95 of the interceptors flying work them.

There are quite a few videos from over the years. Feel free to message me with specific questions if you want so the thread doesn't get derailed.

originally posted by: Dabrazzo
Because it is propaganda.

No. It's not propaganda. It's news. It's factul. It's periodically reported in the UK because it's news. It'll be reported in the UK for as long as it happens.

Regards

a reply to: Zaphod58

That's awesome! I'll look to youtube to satisfy my curiosity. I know during the cold war there were some nuclear "close calls" with some of these flights, on both sides of the pond. I wonder if there have been any similar close calls in recent years.

This is an ongoing thing all countries participate in. Nothing to worry about. What's more disconcerting is the Russians' disregard for other air traffic. Haven't we had a few cases of Russian pilots flying dangerously close to other aircraft? Like under 100 feet close?

This is the video Zaphod is referring to, (I think)

Also a cool view of the counter rotating propellers!

a reply to: ScientificRailgun

A couple. A Swiss ELINT aircraft was intercepted by Su-27s, or Su-35s that flew within about 100 feet or less. An RC-135 had them fly within about 100 feet. It made the crews nervous enough that the next mission fled through Swiss airspace without permission to get away.