Why Do Think Russia Had 8 Nuclear-Armed Bombers Headed Toward the U.K.?

Question

Is it maybe an indirect way of telling the U.S. to ease up the threatening rhetoric aimed at Iran?


"RAF Tornados have intercepted eight Russian bombers as they approached UK airspace.

The Bear Tupolev-95 planes - which can carry nuclear and Cruise missiles - were detected by Nato early this morning.


Typhoon intercepts Bear last month
Ministry of Defence officials said four F3 fighters were scrambled from RAF Leeming in Yorkshire and RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire.

The Russian planes diverted before entering British territory.

They headed back to their base in north Russia without incident and are still thought to be in the air, with Nato tracking their progress.

Sky's Defence correspondent Geoff Meade said: "Diplomatic relations between Moscow and London haven't been great for some time and I think this is maybe a bit of sabre-rattling on behalf of the Russians."

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1283041,00.html

"Earlier this month Russian air force generals said bomber crews had flown near the Pacific island of Guam, where the U.S. military has a base, and "exchanged smiles" with U.S. pilots scrambled to track them."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/08/17/russia.airforce.reut/index.html?section=cnn_latest

dee dee dee-thanks, I did notice that, but still 8 bombers that close to the U.K.? ballsy or crazy?

Answer 1

To the last poster. The B52 by most standards is "Obsolete." Guess what? It still works and still carries a load of stuff "to far way places, with stange sounding names"(Song from South Pacific). So Can the Bear..........

What are the Russians & Putin up too?? He's making Arms deals with Chavez, building Subs, building his Air defense & Whining about our missle defense system. Now The Bears are back in bussiness? Military manouvers with China's PLA. What next? Spy Trawlers? Visit to Cuba? Some of this is to play to the domestic masses. The rest Is a clear message: The Russian Bear is not hibernating any more...........

Answer 2

Here is what was printed, "The Bear Tupolev-95 planes - which can carry nuclear and Cruise missiles - were detected by Nato early this morning." Notice that small but oh so important word, CAN in the statement. Just because the aircraft CAN carry a nuclear weapon doesn't mean they ARE carrying a nuclear weapon. I am not privy to Moscow's military maneuver decisions, but I am fairly sure that the bombers were not armed with nuclear weapons. To do so in the current nuclear weapons posture would be courting disaster if there were to be an accident on board an aircraft. (engine fire, hydraulic fluid loss etc.)

Answer 3

There is no evidence the Russian planes were in fact carrying Nukes.

It say in your blurb:

The Bear Tupolev-95 planes - which can carry nuclear and Cruise missiles - were detected by Nato early this morning.

I suggest you look up the definition of the word: can.

All through the Cold War period post 1945 - 1980's this game was played out around the world between Russia and the west, its nothing new, only you are a young kid who has no idea what was going on in the world before you were born.

It has nothing to do with IRAN or IRAQ.

Answer 4

There is no evidence that they were nuclear armed.
The Americans have been doing this sort of thing for decades.
If you look in the sky on a clear blue day you will see con trails very high with a silver dot in front. With binoculars you can see that they are B52 bombers. The Americans fly over much of the world like this every day.

Answer 5

First off, those bombers are obsolete and pose little threat.

Second, the Russians see every half - a##ed dictator threatening nuclear holocaust and getting all kinds of hand outs, so they figure they should get in on the free money while they can.

Answer 6

They are flexing their military muscle. With what is going on in the world they want to remind the US and Britian they are still a power in the world. It wasn't a threat just a warning saying we are back.

Answer 7

Because they are feeling impotent, and wanted to show some force. With their oil money and arms dealing money they have enough funds to fuel the planes again.

Also, they were supposedly not armed with nukes.

Answer 8

I totally agree with G-Man here. They are flexing their muscle.

I'm half expecting Putin to rename the country to USSR again.

Answer 9

It's obvious: No one can trust everyone, because everyone's friggin' paranoid! But if you're looking for a LOGICAL explanation, good luck findin' it!