RAF Scrambles To Intercept Russian Bombers

They do this stuff all the time,nothing to get worried about.

Cant believe a few brits here said we should blow them out the sky!I think most of our forces are overseas at the moment so we might have to rely on our cubs and scouts who have their archery badges to swot these pesky invaders out of the sky

I expect the press will say Gordon scared them away with his big clunking fist Meet the new boss,same as the old boss-The who were right

[edit on 18-7-2007 by noangels2006]

Originally posted by Zanzibar
I'm confused. Russia sent bombers our way, whether they were intending to enter our airspace is irrelevant, they still did it. Why is ATS the only place I heard this from?

Tension between Britain and Russia has been getting increasingly worse in the last few months and it looks like one side is going to snap.

In my eyes, this is a deceleration of war and should be treated as such. Letting them get away with this kind of rubbish is not going to end nicely. Russia are getting too big for their boots and need to stop flexing that post-Cold War muscle before they do something they would regret

And what are the British going to do? Especially after all these constant budget cutbacks and force reductions.

I dont understand why our British friends constantly act as if they are still the supreme world power when the Royal Navy just cut slashed in half, the Army just got butchered and lost the Highlanders and several other regiments in the most recent "reforms".

en.wikipedia.org...
All I see is "reduction" and "restructuring" written everywhere. Lord Nelson, Winston Churchill, Marlborough, Monte and Wellington are rolling over in the graves at warp speed as we speak.

Originally posted by JackRuby
Umm the OP stated that the planes were Tu95 “Bear” bombers.

Bears are also used as reconnaissance aircraft.


[edit on 18/7/07 by Implosion]

Originally posted by Starwatcher
Regaurdless if it was 2 bombers or 50 it was an aggressive act. One of many more in the forseable future from Russia as long as Putin is at the helm... Do they really want another cold war? Hollywood won the first cold war for us, I don't think it will win this one.

Oh believe me...there is a BIG difference between 2 recon birds...and a full bomber wing knocking on your door (particularly since it would be nicely escorted, bombers like to bring a date)

These flights occur on both sides, and have done so for a long time. Peeking the neighbor is not agressive, particularly, since they didnt enter your airspace, regardless of where to the noses pointed.

"Oh, those kinda look like they might come in...shoot them!"

Agressive, military speaking, would be actual strategic bombers (not a couple of recon birds) with proper escort flying your way. That, is agressive. Recon birds, are not, they have been always been around, will always be, trying to make them a bigger thing, than what they are, doesn't help either.

Another cold war? Well, doubt Russia has any interest in trouble with the UK, particularly due to massive UK resources invested in Russia. Did the USA invest in the USSR?

And considering there will be always be a tech race among powerful nations, this technological race could be called in fact a "cold war". Is development really that bad?? O.o

I believe those bombers, will be an excuse for Gordon Brown to give the go ahead for the new subs with nukes

I really don't understand what all the fuss is about. This has been going on for decades. In the fifties RAF Canberra's would fly through the Moscow air district on radar mapping missions. The Russians would regularly send reconnaissance bombers towards UK air space before heading off to Iceland. They played Cat and Mouse with our Lightning's, Phantoms and latterly Tornadoes. It's nothing new.

By the way ChrisF231 I think you need to broaden you reading. You might not like the phrase "restructuring" but The Royal Navy is still principally designed to fight for six days in Northern waters before the Russians wipe them out. They were meant to stem the tide of the Russian Submarine force long enough for the Americans to move reinforcements across the Atlantic. The British Armed forces are being re-equipped. The Navy has The new Albion Class landing platforms. The Astute Subs are entering service. The Type 45 destroyers are on their way and we will soon hear about the two new carriers. The RAF now has a 'fighter' worth the name and will get the F35 in due course. There are of course other less sexy additions supply ships, The meteor missile etc. etc. We can all argue over the how many and how soon questions but I do get fed up when people simply parrot a Daily Mail agenda or view the world via Wikpedia.

While Russia sisnt seem to break any rile, its clear that they are trying to provocate some sort of conflict.

This is childish behavior. Consider in elementry school, each student has their own desk, and you must keep akll your stuff on your desk. So you statrt puting stuff right near the edge of the desk, right before you cross the line over to thier side of the desk. You may walk your finger up and down the line of the desk, trying to provoke a conflict. Eventuly the person is being bugged by the proviker will respond back, most likly a hit in the face or something.

So this is were we are, Russia is bored and trying to provoke a fight with the UK, so lets see how long russia and the UK will continue with these childish games.

It was probably just a minor reaction to the diplomatic expulsion.

Originally posted by TKainZero
While Russia sisnt seem to break any rile, its clear that they are trying to provocate some sort of conflict.

This is childish behavior. Consider in elementry school, each student has their own desk, and you must keep akll your stuff on your desk. So you statrt puting stuff right near the edge of the desk, right before you cross the line over to thier side of the desk. You may walk your finger up and down the line of the desk, trying to provoke a conflict. Eventuly the person is being bugged by the proviker will respond back, most likly a hit in the face or something.

So this is were we are, Russia is bored and trying to provoke a fight with the UK, so lets see how long russia and the UK will continue with these childish games.

Clearly...you forgot to read the last 40 years of history...Powers spy on powers, have done so for many, many years, and know how far to go.
Comparing routine military procedures to elementary school...is not appropiate.

Russia has quite the muscle to provoke a "conflict" with the UK...and I think its pretty clear military conflict is not an objective for Russia, or the UK.
The planes didnt go into UK airspace...more so...they were only two...far from an "agressive" number.

You seem to forget both countries have nukes...and military conflict, is simply out of the question, Russia doesnt want to nuke the UK any more than the UK wants to turn Moscow to glass.

In this classroom, both students have put stuff right on the border of each other's desk for quite a long time...and there have been no "hits on the face".

The UK runs the finger up and down the desk with subs constantly, and so does the Russians, same for spy planes. Has there been any conflict? Is anyone really trying to provoke anyone? Geez...some people seem to hear about this for the first time ever...when it has been going on for a loooong time.

Russians were having a little fun and letting the UK know their NAVY may be a disaster but they still have bombers.

Originally posted by Starwatcher
Regaurdless if it was 2 bombers or 50 it was an aggressive act. One of many more in the forseable future from Russia as long as Putin is at the helm... Do they really want another cold war? Hollywood won the first cold war for us, I don't think it will win this one.

It was not an aggressive act. It is a common practice of many nations including the U.S. It is just a quick probe to see hoe able the other country is to respond to foriegn planes coming in close proximity to their airspace. It happens all the time and really does nothing to raise tensions.

Originally posted by Ioseb_Jugashvili


Clearly...you forgot to read the last 40 years of history...Powers spy on powers, have done so for many, many years, and know how far to go.

What good does it do Russia to send 2 bomber, that may or may not have had spy equitment on board. The US doesn't even have a spy plane in commision right now, why? Beacuse satalites have replaced spy planes.

The planes didnt go into UK airspace...

How short a memory do you have, just months ago Iran seized Uk navymen out of international waters... and i don't want to get into the Russia/china suplying Iran with weapons.

The UK runs the finger up and down the desk with subs constantly, and so does the Russians, same for spy planes. Has there been any conflict? Is anyone really trying to provoke anyone? Geez...some people seem to hear about this for the first time ever...when it has been going on for a loooong time.

I am no expert on UK-Russia relations, but i try to stay up to date on global situations.

I want to hold the UK as dear allies of US, Russias actions are not what i would deam that of an Ally.

But im just some young American in College, what do i know...

Originally posted by infinite
next time they do it...

we should blow them out of the sky

And start World War III? I truly hope that you were joking with your remark.

This is not a good sign. With things as volatile as they are in Iraq right now and even Iran.. who knows what will happen if Russia gets involved. I for one am not ready for a third world war.

Originally posted by TKainZero
What good does it do Russia to send 2 bomber, that may or may not have had spy equitment on board. The US doesn't even have a spy plane in commision right now, why? Beacuse satalites have replaced spy planes.

A spy plane taps into communications. And the US does have a spy plane in commision...look for the thread of the US plane captured in China....

How short a memory do you have, just months ago Iran seized Uk navymen out of international waters... and i don't want to get into the Russia/china suplying Iran with weapons.

Curious...thought it was Iran's waters they were captured at...gathering info from local fishermen...etc. My memory is quite good, thank you. How is China/Russia sales program related to topic?

I am no expert on UK-Russia relations, but i try to stay up to date on global situations.

I want to hold the UK as dear allies of US, Russias actions are not what i would deam that of an Ally.

Russias "actions" are just a routine military practice done by both sides. Russia is not an ally, nor does it seem interested in being one. But its actions are far from being actions of "the enemy".

No law was broken, nobody was hurt...no need to interpret it as anything but what it is. Two planes, most likely recon, or undergoing training flying in the UKs direction.

But im just some young American in College, what do i know...

Apparently, not enough on this subject

Spy planes are not obsolete at all. Satellites are good, but there are limitations. They orbit the earth in such a way that an advanced "enemy" will know when and where these satellites will pass. So they can take precautions and not perform any secret maneuvers and hide whatever they want to hide. A spyplane however, can fly whenever and (almost) wherever they want to go. Planes have a "surprise" effect.

Forgive me if I'm mistaken.
But did the article say the bombers were headed for British airspace?

Now my geography might not be exceptional, but since when did Russia border the UK?! Either it passed through other foreign airspace or the bombers didn't even get close the Island.

Or did they go up and over Norway?

If they went up and over Norway, they really went out of their way... serious cause for concern.


EDIT:-> My apologies. Thanks for letting me know.


[edit on 19-7-2007 by Spec01]

They took off from a base in the Arctic. It said so pretty clearly in the OP's link, and showed a map too. It might be worth reading the story before replying. Thanks.

Originally posted by Spec01
Now my geography might not be exceptional, but since when did Russia border the UK?! Either it passed through other foreign airspace or the bombers didn't even get close the Island.

Or did they go up and over Norway?

If they went up and over Norway, they really went out of their way... serious cause for concern.

OK. Time to get this one sorted.

These are ferret flights. During the Cold War they happened almost on a daily basis.

The Russians would launch their TU-95 Bear bombers from their base on the Kola Peninsula and they would fly over international waters round Norway and towards the UK, and the RAF would scramble Lightnings, and later Phantoms, and even later Tornadoes to intercept.

The idea from the Russian side was that they could gauge the reaction times of the RAF, and maybe pick up the odd stray electronic intercept.

The RAF used the scrambles to keep their pilots on their toes.

Now these recent events just about happen to coincide with the arrival into service of the Eurofighter Typhoon.

I imagine that our Russian friends are hoping that sooner or later one of our beautiful new birds will pop along and say hello to their reconaissance planes, and then they will get a clear picture of it flying in the sky, up close and personal, be able to gauge its stores, what extra fuel tanks it has on it, maybe see if they can tag some of the electronic emissions and have a little fun with one of the pilots playing catchup. What they may have seen at airshows will not be what they can expect to see on operational flights.

In other words, its not a problem. Its happened lots. In fact, it never stopped happening. It was probably just a slow news day that saw the story get reported.

Ferret flights happen all the time. The US used to fly B-47's, P3 Orions, EC-135, EF 111's, U2's and the SR71 right up to Russian Airspace and skirting along the borders to carry out similar work. Us Brits used to do the same with the Canberra and occasionally the Shacketon and the reconaissance version of the Tornado.

The Russians would fly TU-95's, Bison Bombers, Mig-25's and a whole host of other SIGINT aircraft towards NATO airspace in return.

In other words. Theres nothing to see here apart from whats been happening since about 1947.

[edit on 19/0707/07 by neformore]

Originally posted by Ioseb_Jugashvili

Originally posted by Zanzibar
In my eyes, this is a deceleration of war and should be treated as such. Letting them get away with this kind of rubbish is not going to end nicely. Russia are getting too big for their boots and need to stop flexing that post-Cold War muscle before they do something they would regret

A deceleration of war would be most likely a bit more...obvious, not a pair of spook planes taking a peek. When has the "peek a boo" game hurt anyone?

Pardon my slowness; the caffeine hasn't kicked in yet, but... to decelerate is to slow something down.

Don't you guys mean acceleration?

This isn't just nitpicking; imagine the consequences of using the incorrect term during an international sit-down.

Originally posted by TKainZero

But im just some young American in College, what do i know...

That doesn't mean jack. I know plenty of dumb people in college, if you hav'nt encountered them then I don't know what to say to you. Mommy and daddy pay alot of kids ways through college. If you think Russia sending 2 planes of any type near some other countries airspace then I think you should do a little more studying.



The answer to this thread has been posted many times over so here it is yet again, this was'nt hostile, it happens quite often.