Dutch, British, Danes scramble jets after Russian bombers approach airspace over North Sea

[Cali_Democrat]

Source: AP

AMSTERDAM — The Dutch defense department says several NATO member countries scrambled jets Wednesday afternoon after a pair of Russian bomber planes approached their airspace over the North Sea.

The Dutch ministry identified the planes as two Russian TU-95 Bears, and said it had launched two F-16s from Volkel air force base to intercept them. The Russian jets were escorted by aircraft from the Netherlands, Britain and Denmark until they departed.

Maj. Wilko Ter Horst said "that's why we scrambled, that's why the Danish scrambled and the English scrambled, to ensure they fly out of our air space."

The ministry statement said such incidents have occurred before, citing one from March 21 and another on Sept. 10 last year.


Read more: http://www.startribune.com/world/256377561.html

[Bosonic]

1. Japan scrambles fighters against Russian bombers for 6 days in row

Japan scrambles fighters against Russian bombers for 6 days in row

The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force scrambled fighter jets after three pairs of Russian Tupolev Tu-95 bombers were detected flying around the Japanese archipelago Friday, the Defense Ministry's Joint Staff office announced.

While they did not violate Japanese airspace, this was the sixth day in a row in which Russian military planes were spotted flying close to Japan.

It is rare for the ASDF to scramble against as many as six foreign aircraft in a day. The ministry is analyzing motives behind Russia's heightened activities.

Russia flew one military plane on Sunday, four on Monday, six on Tuesday, two on Wednesday and five on Thursday. The aircraft flown were either Tu-95 or Ilyushin Il-20 surveillance planes.

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/kyodo-news-international/140418/japan-scrambles-fighters-against-russian-bombers-6-day

[amandabeech]

6. They did the same to Sweden in the middle of the night a couple of months ago.

The Swedes were asleep, literally. NATO jets from Denmark were awake and rose to challenge the Russians over the Baltic Sea.

The Swedes and the Finns, both neutral, were incredibly alarmed. There have been calls to have a discussion on whether to join NATO. The two countries also want to activate a Scandinavian defense coordination group that has been dormant. The council would include NATO members Denmark and Norway, which would give Sweden and Finland more experience in operating under NATO procedures if the worst happens.

Russia has the world on edge again, and I'm sure they're loving it.

I just wish I had more faith that this will end peacefully.

[iandhr]

2. Here come the Putin defenders to say...

Last edited Wed Apr 23, 2014, 06:31 PM - Edit history (2)

… that this is and act of warmongering by the Dutch, British and Danes. They were just going for a nice explore and they have no right to defend their own airspace.

[olddad56]

8. those events are routine, just like Russia scrambling jets when the US..

surveillance planes fly along their border. Was the Russian plane actually violating the Dutch, UK or Danish airspace?

[okaawhatever]

3. Russia violated Colombia's airspace twice in what was seen as a threat on behalf of Venezuela.

Russia has strong ties to Venezuela and Venezuela and Colombia have been butting heads lately. They've also established a military relationship with Nicaragua. Russia violated Colombia's airspace in a flight fromVenezuela to Nicaragua and again on the way back. I think there was another incident that was a four hour standoff.

From November:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/06/us-colombia-russia-airspace-idUSBRE9A504020131106

[Jeneral2885]

4. Russian warship approaching British waters

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/defence/portsmouth-warship-sent-to-shadow-russian-navy-destroyer-near-british-waters-1-6017646

Putin's testing NATO

[The Stranger]

5. Where is everyone getting the money for all of this?

Planes flying all over the place, flying superfast, threatening, intercepting, escorting.

This has to cost some money.

[amandabeech]

7. Russia has lots of dough from selling gas and oil to Europe and China. n/t

[olddad56]

9. Flights like these have been going on by both Russia and the US since the 50s.