Posted on Oct 29, 2015
Russian bombers perform fly-by of USS Reagan @1 nm / 500 feet. Do you think this is an escalation?
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http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/russian-aircraft-approach-uss-ronald-reagan-prompting-us-fighter-jet-scramble-1.375709
I don't think this is an escalation, because this is old hat from the cold war days -- I've seen this, myself, in person, when I was in the Navy: a Russian bear bomber overflying, escorted by Tomcats. In fact, we do this to them, as well.
However, it IS a return to that level of rhetoric. What do you think?
(Also, it's kind of bad-assed that the carrier got to do what it's made to do vs Russians, imo.)
I don't think this is an escalation, because this is old hat from the cold war days -- I've seen this, myself, in person, when I was in the Navy: a Russian bear bomber overflying, escorted by Tomcats. In fact, we do this to them, as well.
However, it IS a return to that level of rhetoric. What do you think?
(Also, it's kind of bad-assed that the carrier got to do what it's made to do vs Russians, imo.)
Aviation
Politics
Foreign Forces
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 23
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SSG Todd Halverson
They are just doing what they want because they know our President and his administration will not doing anything.
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SN Greg Wright
SSG Todd Halverson - Well in this case, there isn't anything they COULD do -- freedom of navigation applies. So long as no one turns on targeting radars (that's an act of war, and you can bet your ass those Russians checked their switches before their approach), they could fly directly over the deck of the Reagan if they wanted to.
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The Ruskies are just carrying on the old "pee-pee contest." Wished I had a nickel for every Bear escorted by our ARG's. It got to the point that Sailors & Marines on the weather decks would simply drop trou for Ivan's photo ops. Probably for the better, that tradition has, likely, faded.
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SN Greg Wright
Capt Mark Strobl HAH! On my ship they'd announce on over the 1MC when a flyover was going to happen.
What happened after that...I'll leave to your imagination :)
What happened after that...I'll leave to your imagination :)
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PO1 Scott Cottrell
My first Cruise (on a LHA), a Russian Cruiser was following us as we steamed to Hong Kong, they launched their Helo to fly over our flight deck as our cobra circled their ship.
Let's say a good time was had by all.
Let's say a good time was had by all.
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Dunno what the hub-bub is about, guys. When I was on FORRESTAL and SARATOGA we saw BEARS (and other Soviet aircraft) regularly back in the 1980's. Not a daily event, but it was not unprecedented. If we were off Florida or in the Carribean we'd get flybys from Soviets going to/from Cuba.
We also usually had a Soviet AGI (intel ship) or warship tailing us, too, affectionately called a "Tattle-Tale".
From what I've read of this particular incident, the REAGAN was not caught unawares but launched the Alert HORNETS to intercept once the potential of a flyby arose. In fact, the Bears were handed off to the HORNETS by ROK fighters which first intercepted the Russians. REAGAN and CVW-5 were involved in an air-defense exercise.
I can guarantee that there was at least one E-2 HAWKEYE airborne (first plane off the deck whenever we got underway, it seemed) and that the BEARS were detected early. The ROK could also have had one of their 737-based AWACS platforms up, but that hasn't been mentioned in anything that I've seen.
It's a guess ,but since the REAGAN SG was in an air defense exercise with the ROK the airborne CAP may have either been otherwise involved or just out of position to intercept the Russians. That could be a valid reason to launch the alert package.
The BEARS were probably collecting electronic and other intel as well as testing us a little. You can be sure the HORNETS and other assets were doing the same to them!
We did similar flyovers, and probably still do. IIRC, ours were restricted to a 1000' bubble around whatever Soviet ship was being checked out. So, a 500' flyby at about 1nm is not a big deal.
You can also be sure the various air defense systems in the battlegroup were also using the Bears as "training targets", too! <grin>
In international waters, complying with international norms, it's not that big a deal, other than the fact they have resumed doing it in recent years. They train on us, we train on them!
And it didn't matter who was in office...
We also usually had a Soviet AGI (intel ship) or warship tailing us, too, affectionately called a "Tattle-Tale".
From what I've read of this particular incident, the REAGAN was not caught unawares but launched the Alert HORNETS to intercept once the potential of a flyby arose. In fact, the Bears were handed off to the HORNETS by ROK fighters which first intercepted the Russians. REAGAN and CVW-5 were involved in an air-defense exercise.
I can guarantee that there was at least one E-2 HAWKEYE airborne (first plane off the deck whenever we got underway, it seemed) and that the BEARS were detected early. The ROK could also have had one of their 737-based AWACS platforms up, but that hasn't been mentioned in anything that I've seen.
It's a guess ,but since the REAGAN SG was in an air defense exercise with the ROK the airborne CAP may have either been otherwise involved or just out of position to intercept the Russians. That could be a valid reason to launch the alert package.
The BEARS were probably collecting electronic and other intel as well as testing us a little. You can be sure the HORNETS and other assets were doing the same to them!
We did similar flyovers, and probably still do. IIRC, ours were restricted to a 1000' bubble around whatever Soviet ship was being checked out. So, a 500' flyby at about 1nm is not a big deal.
You can also be sure the various air defense systems in the battlegroup were also using the Bears as "training targets", too! <grin>
In international waters, complying with international norms, it's not that big a deal, other than the fact they have resumed doing it in recent years. They train on us, we train on them!
And it didn't matter who was in office...
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