CNN reports that the US Navy launched four armed F/A-18 fighter jets to intercept two Russian Tu-142 Bear aircraft that were flying near the 100,000-ton aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan while it was participating in a bilateral training exercise with South Korea in the Pacific Ocean. "It is standard operating procedure for U.S. planes to escort aircraft flying in the vicinity of U.S. Navy ships," says Navy Cmdr. William J. Marks. "This type of interaction is not unprecedented. Overall I would characterize the interaction as safe." The Nimitz-class nuclear-powered USS Reagan is essentially a floating airport, complete with an air traffic control center that tracks and communicates with nearby aircraft. When the carrier engages in flight operations, it institutes a carrier control zone, which extends up to 2,500 feet and within a five-mile radius, according to the Navy's flight training instruction carrier procedures.
The lack of communication by the Russian aircraft conflicted with general aviation practice. Even commercial airports of any significant size generally expect two-way radio contact when aircraft fly as close as the Russians did, according to international aviation guidelines. Encounters such as these were common during the Cold War. They subsided with its end but picked up again under current Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Over the last few years and particularly this year and last year, with the start of the Ukraine crisis, Russia has picked up the number of sorties," says Nick de Larrinaga. adding that Putin wants to show Russia is "still a global military power and a force to be reckoned with."
(Score: 0, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 02 2015, @03:19AM
You know Putin has got to have a very small penis.
(Score: 3, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 02 2015, @05:06AM
America's leader in the whitehouse has a huge black cock.
She's not afraid to use it in her husband either.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Monday November 02 2015, @09:39AM
The soviets were far more afraid of the west than the west was afraid of the soviets. That led to them not having the means to provide pensions when their spies reached retirement age. Putin figured he could provide for himself by driving a cab.
When communism fell he was a kgb agent in east germany. He feared not retribution but starvation - he was suddenly unemployed, see.
The man is not rational. I doubt he's overcompensating for a tiny manhood; he's overcompensating for losing the cold war.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]