Russian bomber buzzes U.S. aircraft carrier

[Monique Faulkner]

Russian bomber buzzes U.S. aircraft carrier

Story Highlights
One jet twice flew about 2,000 feet over the deck of the USS Nimitz, U.S. military says

U.S. Defense officials say four F/A-18A fighter jets from the Nimitz were in the air

Japanese officials tell AP one of the jets violated their country's airspace


From Barbara Starr
CNN
     
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- American fighter jets intercepted two Russian bombers, one of which buzzed a U.S. aircraft carrier in the western Pacific over the weekend, U.S. military officials told CNN Monday.




A Tupolev-95 flies over the Izu Islands, just south of Tokyo, Saturday.

 One of them twice flew about 2,000 feet over the deck of the USS Nimitz Saturday while another flew about 50 miles away, officials said. Two others were at least 100 miles away, the military reported.

U.S. Defense officials said four F/A-18A fighter jets from the Nimitz were in the air.

The Russians and the U.S. cartrier did not exchange verbal communications.  Watch U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz »

Four turboprop Tupolev-95 Bear bombers took off from Ukrainka air base, in Russia's Far East, in the middle of the night, Japanese officials told The Associated Press, adding that one of the jets violated Japanese airspace.

Russian bombers have been making flights over the western Pacific for several months. In September, two U.S. F-15 fighters scrambled to intercept a plane that came within 50 miles of the coastline.

There have been eight incidents off Alaska since July. Among the latest, on September 5, six F-15s from Elmendorf Air Force Base, adjacent to Anchorage, Alaska, intercepted six Russian bombers about 50 miles from the northwest coast of Alaska.

Two similar incidents occurred in August, one near Cape Lisburne, Alaska, and the other near Cold Bay, Alaska, west of the Aleutian Islands. E-mail to a friend

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/11/russian.bomber/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

[Volitzer]

Funny thing is that we were doing the same thing to the Soviets with their imperialistic policies now that America is the imperialist the Russians monitor us and then the US cries foul.

Shaddap  America !!!!

[Wanderer]

This activity is absolutely nothing provacative or unique at all.  For decades during the Cold War it was a game for airmen on both sides to "buzz" the other ships and planes.  I recall an instance many years ago where an F-4 pilot intercepted a similar Tu-95 near US fleeet operations.  The US pilot pulled out that latest issue of Playboy and unfolded the playmate for the Sov's enjoyment to which he received thumbs up from the crew.

[Jake]

I'll bet the Russians on those "Bears" couldn't pay for a beer, if they wanted too, for at least a week after.

The only thing that is different in regards to the "buzzing" of each others fleets, is the aircraft that were used.

We use(d?) carrier born fighters, fighter/bombers, reconnaissance birds, and the occasional "Orion" (not carrier born).

We do not field anything near a big (or loud ) as the Tu-95.

(A note for those less savvy in regards to aircraft. The Tu-95 mentioned in the article above is a turbo-prop, not jet, driven maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Yes, it can drop bombs, but it primarily is loaded with torpedoes. Thus it is not a bomber.)

Jake