F/A-18s intercept Russian bombers near carrier

[unhappycamper]

F/A-18s intercept Russian bombers near carrier
By Lolita C. Baldor - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Feb 11, 2008 20:57:51 EST

WASHINGTON — U.S. fighter planes intercepted two Russian bombers flying unusually close to an American aircraft carrier in the western Pacific during the weekend, The Associated Press has learned.

A U.S. military official says that one Russian Tupolev 95 buzzed the aircraft carrier Nimitz twice, at a low altitude of about 2,000 feet, while another bomber circled about 50 nautical miles out. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because the reports on the flights were classified as secret.

The Saturday incident, which never escalated beyond the flyover, comes amid heightened tensions between the United States and Russia over U.S. plans for a missile defense system based in Poland and the Czech Republic.

Such Russian bomber flights were common during the Cold War, but have been rare since.

The bombers were among four Russian Tupolev 95s launched from Ukrainka in the middle of the night, including one that Japanese officials say violated their country’s airspace over an uninhabited island south of Tokyo.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_russianbombers_080211/

[MercutioATC]

1. 2000' is frighteningly close if it was directly over the ship.

What the hell is Russia thinking? If it was as close as reported without any communications, I'm surprised we didn't take it out.

[provis99]

2. the Russian air force is in such a bad state

that the bombers were probably lost, and looking for help from the carriers! The scary Russians just aren't what they used to be in the good ole' days.

[Sherman A1]

3. In my opinion this comes under the

stick it in your eye kind of thing. The Russians are simply reminding us that they are around and giving us a poke in the eye to get the message through. It is more drama brought to you by a bankrupt foreign policy and a defense department's media section.