Oh those Russians

Post by **HeyfordDave111** » Sun 08 Mar 2020, 8:06 am

Apparently tried to enter UK airspace yesterday, some nice pics on sky news online.

We scrambled Typhoon and 2 pairs of Tornado aircraft to intercept.
Maybe they were coming to RIAT early, and the F3's i presume are a secret stash kept at readiness (just in case :biggrin:

)

https://news.sky.com/story/raf-fighter- ... e-11952470

Post by **FarnboroJohn** » Sun 08 Mar 2020, 8:20 am

HeyfordDave111 wrote:Apparently tried to enter UK airspace yesterday, some nice pics on sky news online.

We scrambled Typhoon and 2 pairs of Tornado aircraft to intercept.
Maybe they were coming to RIAT early, and the F3's i presume are a sectret stash kept at readiness (just in case )

https://news.sky.com/story/raf-fighter- ... e-11952470

Twelve F3s were sealed up in HAS at Leeming with their crews, led by a Sqn Ldr Arthur, put into a magic sleep by RAF Merlin (himself now lost) against future need. They appear to have been woken early.... :wall:

Post by **CJS** » Sun 08 Mar 2020, 9:15 am

Nope, you've lost me. I assume the article had now been edited. Worryingly, the, ahem, good folk at Sky are unable to count (or they don't know what a pair means).

Post by **Domvickery** » Sun 08 Mar 2020, 9:53 am

CJS wrote:Nope, you've lost me. I assume the article had now been edited. Worryingly, the, ahem, good folk at Sky are unable to count (or they don't know what a pair means).

The original story claimed 2 pairs of ‘Tornadoes’ had launched

Post by **Big Eric** » Sun 08 Mar 2020, 10:41 am

Only 5 Typhoons were launched in total as ZJ946 flew in both missions from Lossiemouth. Best not tell Sky News though, as they'd only get more confused. :grin:

Post by **CJS** » Sun 08 Mar 2020, 12:11 pm

Domvickery wrote:
CJS wrote:Nope, you've lost me. I assume the article had now been edited. Worryingly, the, ahem, good folk at Sky are unable to count (or they don't know what a pair means).

The original story claimed 2 pairs of ‘Tornadoes’ had launched

Makes sense

I noticed that the Bears still have the guns at the rear. I know the B-52s got rid of their's years ago (1991). I imagine being the rear gunner in a TU-95 is a bit of a lonely job these days :sleepy:

I wonder, does anyone else still have them?

Post by **RAF4EVER** » Sun 08 Mar 2020, 9:07 pm

CJS wrote:
Domvickery wrote:
CJS wrote:Nope, you've lost me. I assume the article had now been edited. Worryingly, the, ahem, good folk at Sky are unable to count (or they don't know what a pair means).

The original story claimed 2 pairs of ‘Tornadoes’ had launched

Makes sense

I noticed that the Bears still have the guns at the rear. I know the B-52s got rid of their's years ago (1991). I imagine being the rear gunner in a TU-95 is a bit of a lonely job these days

I wonder, does anyone else still have them?

Tu 95 or tail gunner? :smile:

Post by **CJS** » Mon 09 Mar 2020, 6:37 am

Tail gunner

Post by **Col. Chibani** » Mon 09 Mar 2020, 11:41 am

Be careful, as photos are labeled as "file pic".
So they may not reflect this interception, but more likely a previous one.

Post by **^Qwerty^** » Mon 09 Mar 2020, 12:58 pm

The total number of Russian jets involved has not been revealed.

Possibly none at all?

The air force deployed three pairs of Typhoons from its Quick Reaction Alert programme, along with two pairs of Typhoons dispatched from RAF Lossiemouth near Moray in northeast Scotland, and a third pair from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

So did they really send up 12 Typhoons?

Post by **capercaillie** » Mon 09 Mar 2020, 1:11 pm

^Qwerty^ wrote:
The total number of Russian jets involved has not been revealed.

Possibly none at all?

The air force deployed three pairs of Typhoons from its Quick Reaction Alert programme, along with two pairs of Typhoons dispatched from RAF Lossiemouth near Moray in northeast Scotland, and a third pair from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

So did they really send up 12 Typhoons?

No just six plus six Tornados. :ninja:

Post by **CJS** » Mon 09 Mar 2020, 1:12 pm

Col. Chibani wrote:Be careful, as photos are labeled as "file pic".
So they may not reflect this interception, but more likely a previous one.

Y'know what, I hadn't thought of that!

Post by **T_J** » Mon 09 Mar 2020, 3:55 pm

CJS wrote:
Domvickery wrote:I noticed that the Bears still have the guns at the rear. I know the B-52s got rid of their's years ago (1991). I imagine being the rear gunner in a TU-95 is a bit of a lonely job these days

I wonder, does anyone else still have them?

Along with the Tu-95/Tu-142s and Tu-22Ms the tail gun is still used by the Russians on the IL-76 Candid. The 23mm cannon can also be used to fire chaff and flares.

Some variants of the Chinese built Badger (Tu-16) still have the tail gun.

https://www.airliners.net/photo/China-Air-Force/Xian-H-6E/2696102/L

https://www.airliners.net/photo/China-Air-Force/Xian-H-6E/2772866/L

IL-76 crew in Russia training with 23mm tail cannon for strafing along with bombs.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STCtFJKfeuk[/youtube]

Post by **T_J** » Wed 11 Mar 2020, 10:47 pm

The Bears were back again today. Two Tu-142 Bear F.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/RAFLossiemouth/status/1237840284177682438[/tweet]

Post by **138EAW** » Thu 12 Mar 2020, 9:47 am

Looks like the Russians are up to their games again today, QRA tanker off the Scottish coast again

Airshowhammer · Post by **Airshowhammer** » Thu 12 Mar 2020, 10:53 am

Why do the Russians do it?

Post by **Go4Long** » Thu 12 Mar 2020, 11:00 am

Airshowhammer wrote:Why do the Russians do it?

Testing response times most likely? They do it to all their neighbouring air spaces, we intercept them north of Canadian air space fairly often, and the US does it off Alaska fairly regularly.

Post by **Stagger2** » Thu 12 Mar 2020, 11:21 am

Airshowhammer wrote:Why do the Russians do it?

Because they can!
Need to train somewhere, why not tie that in with some 'cage rattling'? :heyhey:

Post by **capercaillie** » Thu 12 Mar 2020, 11:38 am

Airshowhammer wrote:Why do the Russians do it?

Its the simple Bear necessities of life.

Post by **T_J** » Thu 12 Mar 2020, 3:43 pm

Airshowhammer wrote:Why do the Russians do it?

Rumour has it that the French carrier group was exercising in the Bay of Biscay. There was also rumours that HMS Prince of Wales was on trials.
Just good training for the Russian Navy Bear crews as they start their Spring training cycle.

These flights involved a number of QRA assets. Norway, UK, France, Spain and Portugal.

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_174349.htm

Post by **T_J** » Thu 12 Mar 2020, 3:48 pm

Airshowhammer wrote:Why do the Russians do it?

Russian Navy Tu-142 Bear Fs have also been off North America keepin NORAD busy.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/NORADCommand/status/1237422269426630656[/tweet]

Post by **CJS** » Thu 12 Mar 2020, 4:43 pm

This is me being dead thick, I realise that, but how close are they actually getting to the UK (or North American) mainland?

And do we do the same to them? :dunno:

Post by **cg_341** » Thu 12 Mar 2020, 4:53 pm

They fly in international airspace (as they are legally permitted to do!) which starts 12 miles from a nations' coastline - just like international waters.

Post by **Wyvernfan** » Thu 12 Mar 2020, 6:14 pm

Question is - if they did enter UK airspace would we then shoot them down, as they would certainly do to us?

Rob

Post by **T_J** » Thu 12 Mar 2020, 9:17 pm

Today it was 2 x Tu-160 Blackjacks.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/RAFLossiemouth/status/1238162463792791556[/tweet]

Oh those Russians

Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians

Re: Oh those Russians