More Russian bombers flying off Alaska coast

[unhappycamper]

An F-15C from the 12th Fighter Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base flies next to a Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber aircraft Sept. 28, 2006, during a Russian military exercise near the west coast of Alaska.


More Russian bombers flying off Alaska coast
By Erik Holmes - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Apr 7, 2008 7:18:49 EDT

More and more American and Canadian fighter jets are scrambling and intercepting Russian bombers flying off the Alaskan coast, exacerbating tensions between the former Cold War foes.

There have been 16 such intercepts since July, Pacific Air Forces Commander Gen. Howie Chandler told the Anchorage Daily News on March 27. That compares with just one in 2005, and none in the previous 10 years, Chandler said.

The Air Force and North American Aerospace Defense Command would not grant an interview and were unable to confirm those numbers by press time.

The most recent incident occurred March 25, when two F-15s from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, scrambled to intercept two Russian Tu-95 Bear heavy bombers.

None of the Russian bombers has entered American airspace, which extends 12 miles out from U.S. soil, said Maj. Allen Herritage, a spokesman for NORAD’s Alaska region. Rather, the bombers have been intercepted after entering the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone, a buffer that extends even further out.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/04/airforce_pacaf_040608/

[fed-up]

1. thanks, that explains why US jets have been flying over Chico in the last few weeks nt