Russian planes again fly over U.S. Navy ships

Russian planes again fly over U.S. Navy ships

www.cnn.com

Russian military aircraft flew just 500 feet over two U.S. Navy ships this week as the ships participated in a joint military exercise with South Korea in the Sea of Japan, according to U.S. military officials.

On Monday, two Russian Ilyushin IL-38 maritime patrol aircraft, known as "Mays," overflew the U.S. aircraft carrier Stennis while it was in international waters in the Sea of Japan.

The Russian aircraft flew about 500 feet over the ship, lower than other flights the Russians have made over U.S. ships in the past year.

The USS Stennis was about 80 miles east of Pohang, South Korea, participating in the joint military exercise when the flyover occurred.

(visit the link for the full news article)

The thing that's worrisome about this is the fact that on both overflights the Russian pilots ignored attempts to talk to them on radio. The Monday overflight over the Stennis was flown much lower and closer than previous flights. Tuesday when the Bears overflew them, they were at 2000 feet, which is where they normally are.

During the 1980s when these overflights were common, the Bears would always have the tail guns pointed up and nowhere near the intercepting planes. I've read reports that several of the intercepts recently, the guns were either level, or pointed somewhat near the intercepting aircraft.

It's almost like they're pushing things to see what they can get away with.

In both cases, they were met by F/A-18s about 70 miles out, and escorted until they left the area.

www.cnn.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 3/19/2009 by Zaphod58]

Sorry budy! I beat you to it

Russian planes again fly over U.S. Navy ships

reply to post by Now_Then


So you did. I didn't see it there. Oh well, what can you do.