F-22's Intercept Russians

[tomahawk6]

This happened Saturday over the Aleutians. The 2 TU-95 bombers had an IL-78 Midas refueler with them.They left the air defense zone and did not enter Canadian air space. 


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-fighter-jets-intercept-russian-nuclear-bombers-near-alaska-report/ar-BBMYqjT?ocid=spartanntp

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Kucharek did not say how close the bombers came to Alaska to shield "operational security," the outlet reported.

Methinks the Russians kind of know how close they came. Now how far out they were detected before intercept would be useful OpSec.

 

[CBH99]

I'm kind of surprised this stuff still makes the news.

They fly their planes near our airspace.  We fly ours (predominantly over Europe) near their airspace. 

Meh  :dunno:

 

[tomahawk6]

The first time I read that tankers were with the bombers. Previous intercepts were just bombers.

 

[CBH99]

I think that must have been more of a training mission than anything to worry about.  In a real world situation, those bombers are some of the fastest jets in service anywhere in the world - with extremely impressive range, too.

 

[GR66]

I think that must have been more of a training mission than anything to worry about.  In a real world situation, those bombers are some of the fastest jets in service anywhere in the world - with extremely impressive range, too.

These were TU-95 Bear bombers...absolutely awesome range (15,000 km unrefueled) but about the speed of a 747 (926 km/h).  I think you're confusing them with the TU-22 Backfire when you're talking about great speed (Mach 1.88, 2,050 km/h).

 

[MarkOttawa]

tomahawk6:

The first time I read that tankers were with the bombers...

From a 2014 post:

NORAD (RCAF) vs Bears…and Foxhounds–and Nukes

...Russian Mikoyan MiG-31 Foxhound long-range fighters (photo)—a type that Russian forces flew in Vigilant Eagle—accompanied two Tupolev Tu-95MS bombers to a point 55 nm from the Alaskan coast on Sept. 17. Two Ilyushin Il-78 tankers supported the formation, which turned back when it was intercepted by a pair of Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptors...

https://cgai3ds.wordpress.com/2014/09/29/mark-collins-norad-rcaf-vs-bears-and-foxhounds-and-nukes/

Mark
Ottawa

 

[tomahawk6]

I guess if they were coming for real the fighter cover and refuelers would be necessary.

 

[Ashkan08]

I guess if they were coming for real the fighter cover and refuelers would be necessary.

If they were coming for real they would probably use the Su-35 or 57 instead of the Mig-31. Then again, flying planes ( bombers, air superiority...) near an airspace is not the same as flying it into another country's airspace.

 

[blacktriangle]

These were TU-95 Bear bombers...absolutely awesome range (15,000 km unrefueled) but about the speed of a 747 (926 km/h).  I think you're confusing them with the TU-22 Backfire when you're talking about great speed (Mach 1.88, 2,050 km/h).

I think one or both of you are confusing them with the Tu-160 Blackjack.

 

[CBH99]

Both the TU-22 and the TU-160 are extremely fast, long ranged bombers.  No tankers needed.

Point is, pretty sure the tanker being there was more for their own training purposes than anything to really be noted.  Either way, the bombers are fast as f**k.

 

[MarkOttawa]

What if tankers are there for (escort) fighters? Surely might make mission of RCAF/USAF NORAD defending planes a whole lot more difficult? Cannot recall seeing anything about such a fighter-escorted bombers scenario.

Mark
Ottawa

 

[tomahawk6]

Surely NORAD could scramble enough fighters to overwhelm an intruder ?

 

[CBH99]

Absolutely.  The USAF has enough airpower in Alaska alone to easily scramble enough aircraft to intercept an intruder.  Add the RCAF to the mix out of the FOL and/or Cold Lake, and NORAD can scramble plenty of planes pretty quickly if need be -- maintenance not withstanding.

I'm out of my lane here, big time - SupersonicMax would be ideal for this topic, or another AF person with some first hand knowledge - but I'm thinking the biggest factor here is range at which foreign aircraft are detected, and their speed. 

The fact that F-22's out of USAF Alaska did the intercept shows how potent the NORAD tip is.  Combined with F-15's and F-16's, and RCAF F-18's -- plus the Russians would be approaching us on our own turf -- there isn't much to worry about, in my humble opinion, about these sorts of intercepts.


Really is business as usual.  Has been happening for decades now, really don't know why it still makes the news...

 

[tomahawk6]

Video of 3d wing F22's in Alaska. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IK8miRmfcU