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Title: WEST: NORAD Head Says Russia Increasing Arctic Long Range Air Patrols
Source:
US Naval Institute
URL Source: http://news.usni.org/2015/02/10/wes ... -arctic-long-range-air-patrols
Published: Feb 11, 2015
Author: Sam LaGrone
Post Date: 2015-02-11 17:23:13 by redleghunter
Ping List: *Military or Vets Affairs* Subscribe to *Military or Vets Affairs*
Keywords: None
Views: 2408
Comments: 11
SAN DIEGO, CALIF. – While Russian military aircraft have stepped up their activity everywhere from the North Sea to the Baltic to the Black Sea in the last year they have also been spotted more frequently closer to the U.S. territory in the Arctic, the head of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) told USNI News on Tuesday. In particular – flights of Tupolev Tu-95 Bear ‘H’ Bombers have increased recently NORTHCOM’s Adm. Bill Gortney said. “They’ve been very aggressive – under my NORAD hat – for us in the Arctic,” he said to USNI News following a keynote address at the WEST 2015 conference. “Aggressive in the amount of flights, not aggressive in how they fly.” Since the March seizure of the Ukrainian region of Crimea by Russian forces Moscow has significantly stepped up air patrols in Europe, Asia and near the Americas. The flights extend as far North as the edge of American air space near Alaska and as far South as U.S. holdings in Guam. In December, two Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornets intercepted a two Bears near the Beaufort Sea entering a U.S. and Canadian Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ). NATO interdicted a record number of Russian flights in 2014 and the Russians claim likewise the U.S. has stepped up its own flights near Russian territory. During the Cold War, Russian long-range aircraft routinely patrolled the edges of U.S. and Canadian airspace probing NORAD defenses, but largely stopped after the collapse of the Soviet Union. As for the current round of patrols, the bomber flights are being used as a “messaging tool,” Gortney said. “Obviously it’s pretty clear that they’re doing that. So they’re flying in places… where they’ve never flown before.” The flights are typically Bears – some capable of firing long-range cruise missiles – but no fighters as of yet, he said. Gortney said despite the increased uptick in flights, the Russians are abiding by international aviation norms. “We haven’t seen anything that crosses into the unprofessional,” Gortney said. “They’re talking and squawking like they should, they’re just doing more of it. “
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#1. To: redleghunter (#0)
They have every right to operate in international airspace just as we do. It's not a "threat", because there is zero probability that Russia is going to attack the United States. If they want to burn up gas flying circles in the air, who cares? We should not get our panties in a wad over this. We should ignore it.
"You Russians fly close to us we Americans fly close to you", just another dick measuring contest from the sound of it.
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
I forgot to ping TC. He loves the pictures of the Bear.
"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb." (Psalm 139:13)
Those vintage turboprops are just too precious.
The main objective might be testing and increase of combat readiness.
It's the old Cold War cat and mouse game. I am sure the sub cat and mouse game is back too. What makes this dangerous for both sides? Both sides have servicemembers doing this cat and mouse game who were born at the end of the Cold War. So stuff like this from both sides, if a mistake happens, can lead to escalation. I think it is Putin's way of telling Obola that even though we are not friends right now, we should still talk. And of course Obola is oblivious to that. For old Cold Warriors like Vic, me and CZ82 this stuff happened almost daily if not weekly when we started serving. So much so that it went unreported unless some side actually violated international air or water boundaries.
"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb." (Psalm 139:13)
I still think they are missing an opportunity to make those Bears into powerful communications and EW platforms. Maybe that is their mission now.
"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb." (Psalm 139:13)
Putin has some very capable new subs coming online. His new class of jets don't have the problems of our F-35 (largely due to requiring it to accommodate VTOL for the Marines). Besides, if Vlad upgraded his old turboprop Bears, it would just be a good excuse for our Air Force to finally get rid of the B-52 and replace it. Subs and capable fighters are what Vlad is interested in. And he covets those Mistral ships. And battlefield robotics and operational networking.
I wouldn't be afraid to say it only slowed down and didn't stop completely.
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
When I started there were SR71s flying wherever they wanted to fly. (Have you ever seen one take off at daybreak, full burners and climbing out at a 45-50 degree or more angle? Nothing else can compare it's a sight to behold, used to watch the one stationed at Mildenhall take off all the time). "OLD"! You think I'm old? Geez what does it take for a guy to get some respect around here..... :)
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
If you have to have an enemy, the Russians are the enemy to have, because they are only aggressive on defense, and they're not insane. Hard, smart, really tough, but not insane. Russians don't START wars, at least not in Europe. What all this means is that the Russians spur you to prepare, they force your scientific game to be better than it would be without them. They force you to train and be ready. But then, unlike Germans and Japanese, English and French (in their day), and even Italians, the Russians don't go berserk and attack. Which means that you and they spur and balk each other, but neither is going to get into "crazy" mode and blow up the world. In a nuclear age, you need your adversary to Be Russians, so that you can end up on the Moon and in a space station with them, and not all in a radioactive Ashe heap. We, and they, and the world, are fortunate in our choice of adversaries. In the end, Russians and Americans doing things are live drills, but they're DRILLS. Both sides are intelligent, and rational, and both sides know that if either pushes things to a CONCLUSION, we all die. Germans, Japanese, British and French are not emotionally stable enough as nationalities to be able to accept perpetual frustration without eventually GOING FOR IT. Russians are, fortunately, and Americans are too diffuse and unfocused to be willing to spontaneously commit nuclear suicide unless attacked first. And the Russians won't do that, because their rational actors, chess players, not political jihadis.
#2. To: redleghunter (#0)
#3. To: CZ82, TooConservative (#2)
#4. To: redleghunter (#3)
I forgot to ping TC. He loves the pictures of the Bear.
#5. To: Vicomte13 (#1)
#6. To: A Pole, Vicomte13, TooConservative, CZ82 (#5)
The main objective might be testing and increase of combat readiness.
#7. To: TooConservative (#4)
Those vintage turboprops are just too precious.
#8. To: redleghunter (#6)
It's the old Cold War cat and mouse game. I am sure the sub cat and mouse game is back too.
#9. To: redleghunter (#6)
I am sure the sub cat and mouse game is back too.
#10. To: redleghunter, Liberator, TC, Vicomte13 (#6)
For old Cold Warriors like Vic, me and CZ82 this stuff happened almost daily if not weekly when we started serving. So much so that it went unreported unless some side actually violated international air or water boundaries.
#11. To: redleghunter (#6)
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