Russian nuclear bombers over North America

[BlairH]

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/04/24/Navigation/177/206145/Russians+claim+bomber+flights+over+US+territory+we nt.html

http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=19845

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11502888

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Russian_commander:_Tu-160s_penetrate_US_airspace_undetected

According to several sources: A squadron of Russian nuclear bombers penetrated NORAD airspace. Time to build bunkers in the basement?

The Russian bomber in question is the TU-160. The Soviet Union...err Russia's most advanced strategic bomber (pictured left, possibly participating in some kind of bizarre aviation mating ritual with that civillian airliner).

http://www.defesanet.com.br/rv/maks2005/imagens/tu-160.jpg

I'm just wondering how the hell these nuclear capable aircraft managed to penetrate NORAD airspace without being intercepted and escorted back to International airspace.

[StoneGold]

That's what happens when you overextend your military capabilities in overseas actions?

[BlairH]

That's what happens when you overextend your military capabilities in overseas actions?

Nah, the F15s in Alaska should still have been put on alert. That's all you guys have "up there" in the first place anyways.

[Grazzt]

Nah, the F15s in Alaska should still have been put on alert. That's all you guys have "up there" in the first place anyways.

I think this is just a warning that Mutually Assured Destruction still applies, despite what some Americans might think.

[Charles RB]

I'm just wondering how the hell these nuclear capable aircraft managed to penetrate NORAD airspace without being intercepted and escorted back to International airspace.

Presumably the Russians want their nuclear bombers to be hard to spot, and the people in charge of watching that bit of airspace are bloody incompetent.

[Ed Cunard]

That's a very graceful looking plane, though.

[BlairH]

That's a very graceful looking plane, though.
http://www.sme.sk/cdata/2353583/20050824004_MAKS_big.jpg

Looks a bit like the B1b

[FBHthelizardmage]

I already made a thread sorta about this.

http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=121429

It's not much suprise the bomber looks like a B-1. They're both 1980s supersonic bombers.

[BlairH]

It's not much suprise the bomber looks like a B-1. They're both 1980s supersonic bombers.
That and the Russians have a nasty habit of copying foreign military tech.

[StoneGold]

That and the Russians have a nasty habit of copying foreign military tech.
Only fair. We copied ours from the aliens.

[FBHthelizardmage]

Only fair. We copied ours from the aliens.

Everyone copies everyone.

The secret of sucess in a military context... steal everything. If someone else gets a good concept rip it off shamelessly.

This applies double to doctrine

[Michael P]

The secret of sucess in a military context... steal everything. If someone else gets a good concept rip it off shamelessly.

That's not just a military concept.

[StoneGold]

Everyone copies everyone.

The secret of sucess in a military context... steal everything. If someone else gets a good concept rip it off shamelessly.

This applies double to doctrine
I think you missed the point in what you quoted. We stole ours from the aliens.

http://www.gryp.fsnet.co.uk/roswell.jpg

[Charles RB]

The secret of sucess in a military context... steal everything.

Nah, nah, nah. The secret is to steal everything but stop the other guy from stealing from you.

[FBHthelizardmage]

I think you missed the point in what you quoted. We stole ours from the aliens.

http://www.gryp.fsnet.co.uk/roswell.jpg

No. I really didn't :) Whose more sucessful than aliens... I ask you...

[Iangould]

Putin was probably just in a bad mood because he missed his daily bath in the blood of chechen civilians.

[Thanos_6383]

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/04/24/Navigation/177/206145/Russians+claim+bomber+flights+over+US+territory+we nt.html

http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=19845

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11502888

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Russian_commander:_Tu-160s_penetrate_US_airspace_undetected

According to several sources: A squadron of Russian nuclear bombers penetrated NORAD airspace. Time to build bunkers in the basement?

The Russian bomber in question is the TU-160. The Soviet Union...err Russia's most advanced strategic bomber (pictured left, possibly participating in some kind of bizarre aviation mating ritual with that civillian airliner).

http://www.defesanet.com.br/rv/maks2005/imagens/tu-160.jpg

I'm just wondering how the hell these nuclear capable aircraft managed to penetrate NORAD airspace without being intercepted and escorted back to International airspace.

Someone is not doing their job.

[Fenris]

http://www.flightglobal.com/Articles/2006/04/24/Navigation/177/206145/Russians+claim+bomber+flights+over+US+territory+we nt.html

http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=19845

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11502888

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Russian_commander:_Tu-160s_penetrate_US_airspace_undetected

According to several sources: A squadron of Russian nuclear bombers penetrated NORAD airspace. Time to build bunkers in the basement?

Well, no. These stories all have only one source: Russian general Igor Khvorov. I haven't been able to find any other reference to any incident, aside from his claim.

(Very weirdly, at least by American standards of journalism: the articles don't say that the US Air Force is investigating the breach, they say that Khvorov says they're investigating it. What, was the US Air Force not available for comment?)

I don't know. It's certainly possible that this happened. It's also possible that it didn't. I'm reserving judgement, but leaning towards the latter, until I get a bit more information.


õ
Skeptical!

[Dan Apodaca]

Do it. I dare you, Russia.

You really think it would be a good idea?

[Trystenn]

Do it. I dare you, Russia.

You really think it would be a good idea?
Only if you want millions of innocent lives to be destroyed.

[Poka Lola Luau]

Why are they admitting it? You'd think they'd want to keep it a secret that they can enter our airspace.

[FBHthelizardmage]

Why are they admitting it? You'd think they'd want to keep it a secret that they can enter our airspace.

Because they want to prove that they can.

It's a Deterent thing. This all follows the foriegn affairs article I sited earlier which claimed that America could destroy them in a nuclear first strike, including their ability to strike back. So now they're flexing their muscles.

[BlairH]

Why are they admitting it? You'd think they'd want to keep it a secret that they can enter our airspace.

They are looking to sell bombers to China. It's a good sales pitch.

[Poka Lola Luau]

Because they want to prove that they can.

It's a Deterent thing. This all follows the foriegn affairs article I sited earlier which claimed that America could destroy them in a nuclear first strike, including their ability to strike back. So now they're flexing their muscles.

In that article it says that Russia and China would have at most a few minutes warning. Isn't that enough time to hit us? I'm assuming they have nuclear subs near our waters all the time.

[BlairH]

In that article it says that Russia and China would have at most a few minutes warning. Isn't that enough time to hit us? I'm assuming they have nuclear subs near our waters all the time.

I don't know how the Russian nuclear suitcase works, but the Yank one is supposedly extremely complex. This would hamper the retaliation window of oppourtunity.

[Big Evil]

Why are they admitting it?
Because they're cavemen who believe they have to act tough inorder to get any respect. It's just like how Saddam cops an attitude in prison, he knows damn well he's in no position to, afterall, we could just put a bullet in his head and say he commited suicide, but why? Because he's programmed himself to act like he has 10lb balls to make everyone intimidated by his presnece. That only works on people who don't know better.

My super evil brain is concocting a plan that involves Russia, Iran, all thier stupid nuclear programs, and one freestyle missle shot at them to make it all blowup and cause a small blackhole. That'll learn'em.

[Grazzt]

Because they're cavemen who believe they have to act tough inorder to get any respect.

The Americans didn't have to claim that MAD no longer applied to them. That sort of thinking is bad, but its worse to proclaim it to the world. It makes it sound like the States are saying "Step out of line and we nuke you." Which makes them sound like cavemen as well.

[Big Evil]

Oh well, can't make an omelete without destroying a couple of capitals.. or something.. :p

[Poka Lola Luau]

I don't know how the Russian nuclear suitcase works, but the Yank one is supposedly extremely complex. This would hamper the retaliation window of oppourtunity.

So either side could be screwed in the time it takes to launch a retaliation.

[Grazzt]

So either side could be screwed in the time it takes to launch a retaliation.

Particularly if there's a doomsday device involved. ;)

[Poka Lola Luau]

Because they're cavemen who believe they have to act tough inorder to get any respect. It's just like how Saddam cops an attitude in prison, he knows damn well he's in no position to, afterall, we could just put a bullet in his head and say he commited suicide, but why? Because he's programmed himself to act like he has 10lb balls to make everyone intimidated by his presnece. That only works on people who don't know better.

My super evil brain is concocting a plan that involves Russia, Iran, all thier stupid nuclear programs, and one freestyle missle shot at them to make it all blowup and cause a small blackhole. That'll learn'em.

Yeah, it's not very smart in my opinion because now we'll try to better our detection of their aircraft. We're lucky that they're cavemen. The defense budget will go even higher now, though. If what they're saying is true.

[BlairH]

Particularly if there's a doomsday device involved. ;)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y33/JBERGES/pic.jpg

I suppose I could give up one and still be feared!

[Big Evil]

10 points to BlairH for quoting Futurama! I knew I liked you.:p

[Dan Apodaca]

Because they're cavemen who believe they have to act tough inorder to get any respect. It's just like how Saddam cops an attitude in prison, he knows damn well he's in no position to, afterall, we could just put a bullet in his head and say he commited suicide, but why? Because he's programmed himself to act like he has 10lb balls to make everyone intimidated by his presnece. That only works on people who don't know better.

My super evil brain is concocting a plan that involves Russia, Iran, all thier stupid nuclear programs, and one freestyle missle shot at them to make it all blowup and cause a small blackhole. That'll learn'em.

AH! Help! I am drowning in the irony!

[Big Evil]

AH! Help! I am drowning in the irony!
That reminds me of a joke. How do you tell a liberal from a conservative? Have a man start to drown from 100ft away at a beach.

The conservative will run to find a 50ft rope, throw it, hold onto it tightly and yell swim for it!

The liberal will run to find a 100ft rope, throw it, then let go and go off to do some other good deed.

[FBHthelizardmage]

In that article it says that Russia and China would have at most a few minutes warning. Isn't that enough time to hit us? I'm assuming they have nuclear subs near our waters all the time.

It's less about first strike than second strike. The general protection for modern gear is either by road mobile ICBMs or sub mounted ones. If you don't know where they are you can't nuke them.

This is the big problem with bombers.

But the real issue is not this, it's muscle flexing. Whether or not they could launch a second strike isn't the issue. It's the fact that some US article claimed that they couldn't. Now they have to prove they could.