Russian Bomber Flies Over American Aircraft Carrier

This is stunning.

U.S. fighter planes intercepted two Russian bombers flying unusually close to an American aircraft carrier in the western Pacific during the weekend, The Associated Press has learned.

A U.S. military official says that one Russian Tupolev 95 buzzed the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz twice, at a low altitude of about 2,000 feet, while another bomber circled about 50 nautical miles out. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because the reports on the flights were classified as secret.

2,000 feet?  No foreign instrument of war should be allowed that near to a billion dollar American vessel with 5,000 American souls aboard without permission.  That plane should have been shot down with no apologies. 

1. Happens more than you think.....somewhere I have a music video with a Bear in it from an intercept from the 80’s involving my ship.....

   Posted by Pete Fanning on February 11, 2008 at 2146 hrs




2. So Owen the next time a US P-3 Orion “rigs” a Russian ship they should shoot it down? 

   I personally have been much closer than 2000 feet to quite a number of Soviet ships back in the day

   as long as you are not in an attack posture I really have no problem with stuff like this, it is all part of the game.

   Hell back in the bad old days the US and USSR ships would actually at times “bump” each other.

   I would have to say you are over reacting here.

   Posted by on February 12, 2008 at 0134 hrs




3. The official said there were no verbal communications between the U.S. and the Russians, and the Pentagon has not heard of any protests being filed by the United States. Historically, diplomatic protests were not filed in such incidents because they were so common during the Cold War era.
   I think the news is over reacting.

   Posted by Peyton on February 12, 2008 at 0306 hrs




4. A U.S. military official says that one Russian Tupolev 95 buzzed the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz twice, at a low altitude of about 2,000 feet, while another bomber circled about 50 nautical miles out. The official was speaking on condition of anonymity because the reports on the flights were classified as secret.

   An official speaking on the condition of anonymity because the flights were classified as secret.

   Isn’t this as much or more of a problem?  That military officials can’t keep classified information secret?

   Loose lips sink ships…

   Posted by on February 12, 2008 at 1026 hrs




5. Oh, and I’ll patiently wait another 5 minutes for the youtube video shot from the deck to be posted.

   Posted by on February 12, 2008 at 1027 hrs




6. “That plane should have been shot down with no apologies.”

   Yeah, because who needs a faux war with Iran when we can have a real war with nuclear Russia?

   Posted by Zach W. on February 12, 2008 at 1910 hrs