Turkey protests second Russian air incursion in as many days

2015-10-09T09:15:21-04:00

Turkey has complained to Russia over an unauthorised incursion of its airspace for the second time in as many days, with the Russian ambassador to Ankara being summoned to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 5 October.

The complaints came just two days after the ambassador was first summoned to the ministry to explain why a Russian warplane had entered into Turkish airspace without permission.

According to the Reuters news agency, the Turkish prime minister Ahmet Davutoglu said he was told by Russia after the first incident that the violation was a "mistake" that would not happen again. On that occasion, the Russian intruder departed the country's airspace after being intercepted by a pair of Turkish Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters.

While Russia has reportedly attributed this incident to 'poor weather', NATO has said that it does not consider the incursion to have been an accident. No details pertaining to the second reported incursions have been released, although there have been unsubstantiated reports that a Russian aircraft locked its radar onto Turkish fighters sent to intercept it.

At the same time as news of the incursions was breaking, the Russian Ministry of Defence released an image that purports to show a Sukhoi Su-30SM 'Flanker' fighter armed with R-27 (AA-10 'Alamo') medium- and R-73 (AA-11 'Archer') short-range air-to-air missiles, parked at an airbase in Syria's coastal Latakia province. This would suggest that Russian Su-24 'Fencer', Su-25 'Frogfoot', and Su-34 'Fullback' strike aircraft are flying with escort fighters, further raising the possibility of a NATO-Russian clash in the skies over Syria.

http://www.janes.com/article/55045/turkey-protests-second-russian-air-incursion-in-as-many-days

Turkey protests second Russian air incursion in as many days - IHS Jane's 360

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2015 9:25 AM

2015-10-09T09:25:39-04:00

.... the Rumor of War is raising ...

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Oct 9 at 2015 9:33 AM

2015-10-09T09:33:42-04:00

If you really want to get Putin's attention, then bring an arsenal and the means to use it. He only recognizes force or power, both of which he has an abundance of. He'll keep testing the waters to see the local resolve, and when one of his planes get shot down, he's going to cry foul and get butthurt. But his payback will be in spades and served very cold. He also knows NATO/UN are all talk and resolutions. And he has permanent veto power in the security council.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2015 10:16 AM

2015-10-09T10:16:32-04:00

The Russians probably see this as an opportunity to prove they're the new "Big Kid on the Block" and demonstrate the lack of resolve in NATO, while thinking they'll reveal the USA to be a "Paper Tiger".

At this point, if some Turkish fighter jock get's itchy fingers...and gets lucky...things could get very hairy, very quickly.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2015 10:57 AM

2015-10-09T10:57:45-04:00

This makes me wonder if Russia's command and control is a lot worse than I thought. Between this and the 4 missiles hitting Iran, I am not exactly viewing them as the capable military I thought they were. They are still scary though, and lack of control actually makes it worse.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 9 at 2015 11:16 AM

2015-10-09T11:16:20-04:00

This was no accident. Russia is attempting to cow Turkey into allowing over flight to it's military transport flights. It is very inconvenient to fly all the was around over Iran and Iraq.

Also noteworthy: there is nobody that Russia considers (publicly) a target for air-to-air missiles. Only Syria and coalition aircraft are operating in Syrian airspace. Release of photos of an air superiority aircraft is a direct threat to Turkey and others to not interfere with Russian activities.
Putin doesn't do subtle.