Russian Spy Plane Intercepted By 3 Air Forces

[Hypognosis]

Predictably, they claim it was "on a training exercise", used "neutral airspace" and complied with all other applicable rules.

So what do you think they were hoping to see?

Can we send them the bill for the multiple intercept missions? {rhetorical}

[Hypognosis]

Story here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29736481

[jourdain2]

It would be lovely to actually send them a bill and see what happened.

[DTCwordfan]

Is this linked to the missing Russian sub in Swedish waters story? The Swedes were threatening to use depth charges to flush it out.

[Hypognosis]

Hi jourdain,

it would be worth it for the lulz. Both sides should see the humour in it.


Meanwhile, probing of defences is "cold war" behaviour personified. It used to be Tu-95s over the north sea, daily. That only came out under the 30-year rule.

[Hypognosis]

@DTCwordfan

My first thought too but I'll "pass" on that one. ;-)

[Hypognosis]

I am stunned by the complete lack of curiosity or response from fellow ABers!

Do you -all- work for The Mildly Alia?

[Svejk]

///Do you -all- work for The Mildly Alia///
what does that mean?
incidentally, that's almost an anagram of The Daily Mail.

[scorpiojo]

...lethal, milady

[scorpiojo]

Oops, thought that was an anagram

[Canary42]

Putin seems to be trying to restart the Cold War.

[Hypognosis]

@Svejk

yes, I had to drop in to Rent-an-L to make that one work.
(Looks like jo did too) :)

@Canary42

I was surpised to read that Sweden is not in NATO. They obviously have their own reasons for that, like not wanting to get sucked into any conflicts in the central Europe of 30+ years ago. Why Putin would want to poke them with a sub and a spy plane, other than to test for NATO interest, I cannot imagine.

Maybe it's sign language? Sweden threatens depth charges* so you test out their interceptor response?


*idiotic move against a nuclear-powered sub in home waters. There's already been one which sank, leaking radioactivity into the Baltic (1990s??).

[ludwig]

Sweden has now called off the hunt for that sub apparently

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-29752368

[agchristie]

Hypo - ///what do you think they were hoping to see?///

Maybe, to see how neighbouring countries would react?

Stage two - ??

[Hypognosis]

Good question, ag. I thought everybody was too broke to start wars?*



* slight wordplay, here. 'Officially' there is no Rus involvement in Ukraine.

[agchristie]

True Hypo, but some folk don't allow cost to come between their principles....

[agchristie]

Russia seeks to be taken more 'seriously'?...

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/mobile/business/article/despite-swedes-sub-panic-russias-baltic-fleet-is-far-from-fearsome/509840.html

[agchristie]

The intrigue continues....

http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-29756959

[Hypognosis]

Thanks for those links. Haven't read them yet but will, when I get a mo.

Meanwhile, north sea flybys have occured recently. Not sure if this was a one-off or a resumption of probing for weaknesses.

not this one: (the cargo plane, should be other AB threads about it, I just want to drop this link where I can find it again)
http://m.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29823148

But this: (heard about it , haven't read this article though)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29825890

Or this pub'd 3hrs ago (paywalled, so I can't view it)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/2dd3bdb6-5f95-11e4-8c27-00144feabdc0.html

[EDDIE51]

The Russians do this all the time to test response times. The Russian aircraft log how long it takes from detection to intercept. It is part of their training and hardly 'news'.

[EDDIE51]

Hypognosis Are you aware of this site?
http://www.pprune.org/
It seems 'right up or street'
sections for every aspect of aviation from military to freight ( freightdogs is often very funny) and passenger ( or SLF Self Loading Freight as pilots call passengers ) plus ground crew and air crew forums.
PPRUNE is always the best place to get the inside news on any story to do with flying.