Russian bombers intercepted again?

Question

With reference to this story:

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20070906/tpl-uk-britain-russia-bombers-b64c7e7_6.html

Why are the Russians sending ancient bombers to patrol over neutral waters?

Read the story. According to Sky News they were heading to British waters before doing a u-turn when they were intercepted by British fighters.

I'm specifically referencing their proximity to British airspace. Maybe they're sending archaic aircraft trying to see what we send up in retaliation?

I do not mean to stoke the fires of paranoia. Please be rational about this.

This is the third time this has happened. It is not coincidence, nor meaningless.

Answer 1

and......... we illegally invaded Iraq, you don't see its allies invading us do you

Answer 2

It's been going on for months.

Maybe the Government will finally give us more funds to counter this potential threat!

The Russians are doing this simply to show that they still have a military and that they can afford to maintain it. that's all. They couldn't afford to fuel their bombers/maritime patrol aircraft after the collapse of the Soviet Union. They have a little money now, so they're just flexing their muscles a bit to prove that they can still do it.

Plus, it gives them an easy opportunity to see our brand new Typhoons up close and get some reconnaissance pictures of them. (An old Cold War game we played against them, intercepting and taking pictures of each other)

By the way, it was a bomber variant.

"This entirely new variant of the BEAR bomber - the BEAR H - became the launch platform for the long-range Kh-55 [AS-15] air-launched cruise missile. The initial version carried Kh-55 air-to-surface missiles located in the bomb bay on a catapult. This was the first new production of a strike version of the BEAR airframe since the 1960s. With the BEAR H in series production, the decline in the inventory of BEAR aircraft, characteristic of the late 1970s, was reversed. By 1988 BEAR H bombers were regularly observed simulating attacks against North America."

Answer 3

The Russians are simply repeating tactics ended in 1991 because they were struggling to pay for the fuel (hard to believe now!). Putin decided recently to restart the flights as a Russian show of strength and prestige. These incursions are attempted incursions lack any real significance to our security as the Russian Bear bombers are very old and no match for NATO intercept aircraft. At best, the Russians will gain some strategic information regarding intercept times etc.

Answer 4

it extremely is been happening for months. possibly the government will ultimately supply us additional funds to counter this ability hazard! The Russians are doing this just to coach that they nonetheless have a protection tension and that they are able to locate the money for to maintain it. that's all. They could not locate the money for to gas their bombers/maritime patrol plane after the fall down of the Soviet Union. they have somewhat money now, so as that they are basically flexing their muscle groups somewhat to coach that they are able to nonetheless do it. Plus, it provides them an undemanding hazard to work out our sort new Typhoons up close and get some reconnaissance photos of them. (An previous chilly war pastime we performed against them, intercepting and capturing of one yet another) by ability of how, it replaced right into a bomber variation. "This completely new variation of the undergo bomber - the undergo H - grew to become the launch platform for the long-variety Kh-fifty 5 [AS-15] air-released cruise missile. The preliminary version carried Kh-fifty 5 air-to-floor missiles placed interior the bomb bay on a catapult. This replaced into the 1st new production of a strike version of the undergo airframe through fact the Nineteen Sixties. With the undergo H in series production, the decline interior the inventory of undergo plane, function of the overdue Seventies, replaced into reversed. by ability of 1988 undergo H bombers have been many times stated simulating assaults against North usa."

Answer 5

Im really sorry but to be honest, whatever happens happens, fate will take its course regardless of how rational we are or how much we worry. So in other words i have no idea why the Russians are sending bombers over neutral waters.

Answer 6

People keep slamming the tu-95 bear as being old and obsolete, its still a very capable weapon. Some variants can carry upto 16 nuclear missiles with a range of 3000km, each with a 200kt warhead. It wouldn’t even need to get close to the UK to attack, it could fire before it could be intercepted. I don’t think its anything to worry about though, its been going on for years, but the old plane is not as harmless as it looks.

Answer 7

Why are the Russians sending ancient bombers to patrol over neutral waters?

England and America are allowed to do what they want and when they want but Russia isn't??? Call it fair or what

Answer 8

As reported this has happened twice this week but they have not entered our territory. I'm hoping that they are just showing that they can do it and that they are a threat and should be taken seriously.

We don't want a war with Russia as it has a far more serious knock on effect with other countries.

Answer 9

What, and America doesn't stick its nose where it shouldn't?

In an odd way, I'm kind of glad that the whole won't be dominated by the US for much longer. They have shown what a mess they can make of things and depsite telling us they are for the goodn and democracy, they act only for thier best interests and are like a school bully...we'll bomb you until you agree with us.

Politics is always better when there are two sides, else its a dictatorship, and we know what America thinks of dictators!

Answer 10

Why do that? They could just send a couple of Russians to one of the many air shows our remaining three RAF fighter bombers do each year - LOL!!!!!!!! You see we haven't got much - what they want to see is what the Yanks have - that is what they really really want!!!!

Answer 11

Putin is flexing his muscles and letting the West know that Russia can still be a threat to them if they interfere in the forthcoming elections