Russians "buzz" us aircraft carrier

[c.sander]

http://networks.org/?src=fox:0,2933,330362,00

A U.S. military official says that one Russian Tupolev 95 buzzed the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz twice, at a low altitude of about 2,000 feet, while another bomber circled about 50 nautical miles out. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because the reports on the flights were classified as secret.

[Pa. Patriot]

Obvious test of willingness to defend.

We failed.

Should have been shot down. Zero tolerance for security breaches should be the policy.

[phillyd2]

Usual games we play.

[reels18]

The Navy is lucky that the POS antique didn't stall out while over the carrier and crash on the flight deck.

The Russian military has been reduced to ankle biter status.

[RoyJackson]

They did the same thing in 1971 or 72 when I was on the Saratoga (also a carrier)

[rwilson452]

Way back when it was bears that did the overflight.

It was a security failure only if the Russian Tupolev 95 didn't an escort of carrier fighters, usually FA-18 or three.

Back in the old cold war daze it was a regular thing. the trick was how far out we did the intercept. was it before they reached missile launch range.

[larrymeyer]

As the bombers got about 500 miles out from the U.S. ships, four F/A-18 fighters were launched from the Nimitz, the official said. The fighters intercepted the Russian bombers about 50 miles south of the Nimitz.

We should have splashed one or at the very least warned them off. I guess the JAG lawyer didn't want to cause an international incident. So he told the American pilots not to fire are communicate with them in any way. Thats what happens when lawyers run the war

[Pukindog]

Happened to us on a almost daily basis. Alert fighters were launched, Russkies were intercepted, pilots waved to each other. Different story if it was another country. Libya and Syria ( to mention a couple ) were taught a different lesson.
Migs and Sukhois were both splashed.

Jeff

[lexington86]

Originally Posted by Pa. Patriot

Obvious test of willingness to defend.

We failed.

Should have been shot down. Zero tolerance for security breaches should be the policy.

Risky business there. I'm pretty sure that if we shot them down, we'd just be doing exactly what they wanted (i.e. an excuse to retaliate in some way).

[Morel42]

Maybe just the Russians saying "Hey, we're back" to the Navy?