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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: 3, Insightful) by Zz9zZ on Monday November 02 2015, @09:00AM
Exactly. The Russians are not much (if at all) better, but it is easy to wave the patriotic flag and think we're above such things. Thanks for the wake up call.
~Tilting at windmills~
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday November 02 2015, @04:07PM
No. The Russians ARE better for now.
For one they are not hypocrites. Russia says they are doing stuff for Russia, not for freedom, not for democracy not for whatever bullshit the US likes to say before they mess things up.
I bet that part of the ocean the US aircraft carrier is in isn't US territory. If it's not Korean territory either but international waters then the Russian planes have the same right to be there as the US planes and ships even if the US military doesn't like it. The US is trying to pretend it owns the ocean. And the US likes to pretend its doing it for defense when aircraft carriers are NOT for defense. Planes flying from airbases on your soil around your territory could be for defense, but planes flying from an aircraft carrier halfway across the world is not defense. It's "projecting power" e.g. swinging your fist. Don't be surprised if other people take offense when you swing your fist near their nose and start putting their fists near your fists as well.
Yes Russia is exerting its power but the US has exerted its power in the Middle East and arguably made things worse. Have all those drone strikes made things better? Did getting rid of Gaddafi or Saddam make Libya better? The US keep supporting the Saudis who are arming the ISIS: https://theintercept.com/2015/10/26/bbc-protects-uks-close-ally-saudi-arabia-with-incredibly-dishonest-and-biased-editing/ [theintercept.com]
Sure the Russians are backing Assad, but think about this if the US had backed Assad or just not got involved do you think Assad would be sponsoring acts of terror in the USA? In contrast the USA is sponsoring the allies of the ISIS in their fight against Assad and others. These allies often switch to joining the ISIS completely. If these allies and/or ISIS win, you'll get plenty more schools for terrorists.
The US plays with fire and feigns surprise or innocence when others or itself gets burned.
(Score: 2) by turgid on Monday November 02 2015, @09:12PM
Yes, that nice Mr Putin [youtube.com] is just doing what any other self-respecting, red-blooded man would do. What could possibly go wrong?
I refuse to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent [wikipedia.org].