Russian bomber says hi to our carrier

[Savage_Messiah]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/11/russian.bomber/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- American fighter jets intercepted two Russian bombers, one of which buzzed a U.S. aircraft carrier in the western Pacific over the weekend, U.S. military officials told CNN Monday.

A Tupolev-95 flies over the Izu Islands, just south of Tokyo, Saturday.

One of them twice flew about 2,000 feet over the deck of the USS Nimitz Saturday while another flew about 50 miles away, officials said. Two others were at least 100 miles away, the military reported.

U.S. Defense officials said four F/A-18A fighter jets from the Nimitz were in the air.

The Russians and the U.S. cartrier did not exchange verbal communications.

Four turboprop Tupolev-95 Bear bombers took off from Ukrainka air base, in Russia's Far East, in the middle of the night, Japanese officials told The Associated Press, adding that one of the jets violated Japanese airspace.

Russian bombers have been making flights over the western Pacific for several months. In September, two U.S. F-15 fighters scrambled to intercept a plane that came within 50 miles of the coastline.



There have been eight incidents off Alaska since July. Among the latest, on September 5, six F-15s from Elmendorf Air Force Base, adjacent to Anchorage, Alaska, intercepted six Russian bombers about 50 miles from the northwest coast of Alaska.

Two similar incidents occurred in August, one near Cape Lisburne, Alaska, and the other near Cold Bay, Alaska, west of the Aleutian Islands.

[SteveR]

That kind of stuff happens all the time. And its by a lot of nations, not just Russia. Heck we do it too. Remember just a few years ago we flew a P-3 Orion too close to China. I'm just surprised the Navy still flies the F/A-18A model :lol: Nothing like flying outdated airframes when they've spent billions on hmmm the C model, and the E model. You know, over the last forty years since the A model was released lol

[Savage_Messiah]

That kind of stuff happens all the time. And its by a lot of nations, not just Russia. Heck we do it too. Remember just a few years ago we flew a P-3 Orion too close to China. I'm just surprised the Navy still flies the F/A-18A model :lol: Nothing like flying outdated airframes when they've spent billions on hmmm the C model, and the E model. You know, over the last forty years since the A model was released lol


From a marine pilot over on FTV6: (In reply to someone stating the obvious that Russia can't afford another arms race)

I don't think we can either. lol. In the article it says the bombers were intercepted by FA-18A's. A model hornets have been outdated and out of service for over 10 years. They are being brought out of the desert boneyards and rebuilt because all the C's and D's are litterally falling apart. The JSF is LONG OVERDUE to replace our aging and decrepit fighters, but we can't afford it. The air force has a few F22's, but they can't afford anymore than that because the rest of thier budget goes to mahogany office furniture, plasma TV's, and breast augmentation for insecure females.

[unstable bob gable]

Things were so much better when the Russians were the enemy. They never hijacked passenger flights and flew them into our buildings like a bunch of pussies. They had honor and strength in their military, and deserved props for it. Plus they make a dayum good wodka!

[SteveR]

It's the Navy's own fault. They had a cheap and effective way to extent the service life of the F-14 Tomcat and outfit them as D models, but for some reason they decided to scrap the entire fleet, and spend billions and billions on the Super Hornet Es and Fs. Sure, they're great planes, and yes, they're configurable for multiple roles, but the cost associated with the R&D to do so and the delays mean that only the F/A-18E & F planes in service now have been outfitted as high altitude presicion light bombers, interceptors, and ground support attack planes. The F/A/E-18G has yet to surface, and none of them can perform the heavy munitions role that the F-14 did. The whole idea was to have one style airframe to reduce maintenance costs, and yes that makes sense, but you have to have the airframes in service in order for that theory to work. Instead, the Navy decided to scrap its primary fighter and not provide enough in-service airframes to reduce maintenance issues. now they have to pull out old retired planes. Sounds great. Sounds like the Navy is one step above the Canadian Air Force.

[SteveR]

Things were so much better when the Russians were the enemy. They never hijacked passenger flights and flew them into our buildings like a bunch of pussies. They had honor and strength in their military, and deserved props for it. Plus they make a dayum good wodka!

The problem that faced the Soviet Union during the Cold War is the problem thats building for us. They spent so much on military spending, that they ignored domestic issues and bankrupted their country. It's actually a good thing they did in terms of the arms race, because their aircraft were vastly superior to ours, and still are. Their Su-37 Terminator came out twelve years ago, and is much more maneuverable than our F/A-22 Raptor that is just reaching service now. The main reason we 'won' the arms race is infrastructure. The US had, and still has, the best military training program in the world. The Soviet Union couldn't create and maintain a pilot and maintenance training program to provide enough qualified pilots and maintenance personnel. They simply couldn't get all of their planes in the air.

There has also been a lot of talk about Sukhoi getting the contract to build Russia's next air superiority fighter. I'm guessing it'll be airborne within the next three years.

Here's a quick vid of the Su-37. Its a pretty sick plane.

http://www.strategypage.com/military_videos/military_photos_200742333043.aspx

[WildBillyT]

"Eh lieutenant, what were you doing there?"

"Communicating. Keeping up foriegn relations."

[Ian]

"Eh lieutenant, what were you doing there?"

"Communicating. Keeping up foriegn relations."

great movie!

[edpontiac91]

The problem that faced the Soviet Union during the Cold War is the problem thats building for us. They spent so much on military spending, that they ignored domestic issues and bankrupted their country. It's actually a good thing they did in terms of the arms race, because their aircraft were vastly superior to ours, and still are. Their Su-37 Terminator came out twelve years ago, and is much more maneuverable than our F/A-22 Raptor that is just reaching service now. The main reason we 'won' the arms race is infrastructure. The US had, and still has, the best military training program in the world. The Soviet Union couldn't create and maintain a pilot and maintenance training program to provide enough qualified pilots and maintenance personnel. They simply couldn't get all of their planes in the air.

There has also been a lot of talk about Sukhoi getting the contract to build Russia's next air superiority fighter. I'm guessing it'll be airborne within the next three years.

Here's a quick vid of the Su-37. Its a pretty sick plane.

http://www.strategypage.com/military_videos/military_photos_200742333043.aspx
Looks like the F-16 Tomcat. Hope they have lots of BARF bags in the cockpit.

[bubba428]

you mean an F-14??, but it doesn't at all....its fixed wing, and its WAY more maneuverable.

[edpontiac91]

you mean an F-14??, but it doesn't at all....its fixed wing, and its WAY more maneuverable.

I'am thinking the one that was in TOP GUN. Same dual rear tail fins. Those wings do move.

[bubba428]

sorry dude...SU-37s don't have moving wings, and the F-14 was in top gun, they do have the moving wings. The correct term is escaping me right now...I'm sure one of the military guys can correct me

[edpontiac91]

sorry dude...SU-37s don't have moving wings, and the F-14 was in top gun, they do have the moving wings. The correct term is escaping me right now...I'm sure one of the military guys can correct me

Right Bubba, I was just saying that the F-14 had variable swept wings(I believe that is the term), not like the SU-37s fixed design. Thanks for the correction on the F-14-F-16.

[ar0ck]

"Eh lieutenant, what were you doing there?"

"Communicating. Keeping up foriegn relations."

You know... the bird

[EchoMirage]

Here's a quick vid of the Su-37. Its a pretty sick plane.

http://www.strategypage.com/military_videos/military_photos_200742333043.aspx

cool.....vectored thrust? that russkie must have had one nasty g-force suit on. i saw on some military show that russia now has a 2 man side-by-side bomber, big enough and with enough room behind the seats for a cot, hotplate, and crapper.

[Jersey_TA]

Here's a quick vid of the Su-37. Its a pretty sick plane.

http://www.strategypage.com/military_videos/military_photos_200742333043.aspx

That was always my favorite plane in all the ace combat games :)

[Blacdout96]

cool.....vectored thrust? that russkie must have had one nasty g-force suit on. i saw on some military show that russia now has a 2 man side-by-side bomber, big enough and with enough room behind the seats for a cot, hotplate, and crapper.

Yes, I believe its the Su-34, its in the Ace Combat Games as well. its ment for long range bombing, not for fighting, but thats still cool, but its gotta suck to be that close to the guy takign a crap on the plane lol. Russia did have an awsome aircraft development. While we were studying stealth technology, they were working on faster, adn more maneuvorable planes. the Mig-31's were noted at being able to briefly touch Mach 3 in one of my books. To me, I dont call ti the Cold War, cause...well there was no blood shed, not battles goign on, so it wasent a war, it was a stailmate, because both countires knew if one fire on the other, the other had jsut as many missiles pointed at them, but it did boost our development of weapons.

[Blacdout96]

That was always my favorite plane in all the ace combat games :)

personally mine was the S-37 berkut, and the YF-23 Black Widow.

[SteveR]

personally mine was the S-37 berkut, and the YF-23 Black Widow.

The Berkut in real life is the Su-47. It was a forward swept wing version of the Su-37.

[SteveR]

cool.....vectored thrust? that russkie must have had one nasty g-force suit on. i saw on some military show that russia now has a 2 man side-by-side bomber, big enough and with enough room behind the seats for a cot, hotplate, and crapper.

Yep, the latest version has fully independent 360 degree thrust vectoring on each engine. The F/A-22 only has vertical vectoring. The Su-37 also has an intelligently controlled computer target acquisition system that can track, target, and take out any ten targets at once, both on the ground and in the air.

[SteveR]

cool.....vectored thrust? that russkie must have had one nasty g-force suit on. i saw on some military show that russia now has a 2 man side-by-side bomber, big enough and with enough room behind the seats for a cot, hotplate, and crapper.

oh and the side by side bomber is the Su-32. Heres a good video of Sukhoi's planes at a demonstration in 2005. You can see the independent thrust vectoring in action around the 1:00 mark. The Su-27 Flanker is in there, the Su-47, the Su-30, the Su-32, and a few other planes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zxb0Q6hZgA

[Blacdout96]

Read it, trust me, some serious stuff.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://robocat.users.btopenworld.com/Images/s37c.gif&imgrefurl=http://robocat.users.btopenworld.com/su37.htm&h=376&w=621&sz=37&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=KtlWsugWiYgc9M:&tbnh=82&tbnw=136&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ds-37%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

and...

http://aeroweb.lucia.it/rap/RAFAQ/six5th_5.html

[WildBillyT]

Funny how the Russians have all this tech but they still can't keep their servicemen from dismantling expensive equipment to sell for food money.

[Blacdout96]

oh and the side by side bomber is the Su-32. Heres a good video of Sukhoi's planes at a demonstration in 2005. You can see the independent thrust vectoring in action around the 1:00 mark. The Su-27 Flanker is in there, the Su-47, the Su-30, the Su-32, and a few other planes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zxb0Q6hZgA

http://wmilitary.neurok.ru/su34.html

It is a Su-34. A Su-32, and Su-34 are essencially the same plane, they look the same, but the Su 34i s actually bigger. The Su-32 is known as the Fullback, and the Su-34 is known as the platypuss. The Su-32 you can stand up in, but does not have the stove and Toilet, that was built into the Su-34.

[SteveR]

http://wmilitary.neurok.ru/su34.html

It is a Su-34. A Su-32, and Su-34 are essencially the same plane, they look the same, but the Su 34i s actually bigger. The Su-32 is known as the Fullback, and the Su-34 is known as the platypuss. The Su-32 you can stand up in, but does not have the stove and Toilet, that was built into the Su-34.

Cool, I knew about the Su-32 but not the Su-34.

[SteveR]

Funny how the Russians have all this tech but they still can't keep their servicemen from dismantling expensive equipment to sell for food money.

Thats exactly the problem I mentioned earlier.

[Blacdout96]

America should of built the YF23, I love that plane over the F-22, but what are you gonna do ya know?

[SteveR]

America should of built the YF23, I love that plane over the F-22, but what are you gonna do ya know?

The YF-23 was a great idea, but it came down to cost and influence. The F/A-22 is a great plane, and a huge step in fighter technology, but it falls slightly short of the competition. What we should do is find a replacement for the B-1, and the A-10. Our inventory is aging rapidly and we are relying on planes like the C-130 and B-52 which are both over 50 years old. With spending at an all time high, and dumb ideas like the tanker replacement concept with Boeing, we need solid foundations for the next several decades.

[1972LT1]

The yf-23 was a cool jet that used a buttload of carbon fiber and other materials to create the wing. If it worked,it would have been great,but everytime they baked one under vaccuum there were air bubbles trapped in it. Remember we didn't see the F-117 Nighthawk for more then 10 years after it was built. Lockheed Skunkworks and Area-51. They wouldn't have decomissioned the SR-71 without a replacement. Just imagine what we haven't seen .......

[Blacdout96]

The yf-23 was a cool jet that used a buttload of carbon fiber and other materials to create the wing. If it worked,it would have been great,but everytime they baked one under vaccuum there were air bubbles trapped in it. Remember we didn't see the F-117 Nighthawk for more then 10 years after it was built. Lockheed Skunkworks and Area-51. They wouldn't have decomissioned the SR-71 without a replacement. Just imagine what we haven't seen .......

Just ta give ya a heads up. The F-117 was actually developed 20 years before we first saw it EVER, in Desert storm. A co-worker of mine was on the development team for the B-2 (He was more part of matinence while they tested it.) And you are right, I mean we still have B-52's in service and are about a decade older then the SR-71 ( which is my favorite plane of all time, thus one of the reasons why I went with a Black, and a little bit of red here and there theme on my car) So there is a replacement for the SR-71, but will they show it yet? I doubt it. Theres two places that hold secrets. One is not hidden, adn the other is Area-51. The other is Edwards Airforce Base, which is also home to Lockheed Martin, which has been the forefront of the most techinical planes over the past 50 years, including the U-2, the SR-71, the F-117, the B-1 and B-2, and the YF-23, but lost the contract to the F-22.Its really only in our wildest dreams as to what they are producing outside the public eye, and most likely is being used, and we dont even have a clue.

[SteveR]

Just ta give ya a heads up. The F-117 was actually developed 20 years before we first saw it EVER, in Desert storm. A co-worker of mine was on the development team for the B-2 (He was more part of matinence while they tested it.) And you are right, I mean we still have B-52's in service and are about a decade older then the SR-71 ( which is my favorite plane of all time, thus one of the reasons why I went with a Black, and a little bit of red here and there theme on my car) So there is a replacement for the SR-71, but will they show it yet? I doubt it. Theres two places that hold secrets. One is not hidden, adn the other is Area-51. The other is Edwards Airforce Base, which is also home to Lockheed Martin, which has been the forefront of the most techinical planes over the past 50 years, including the U-2, the SR-71, the F-117, the B-1 and B-2, and the YF-23, but lost the contract to the F-22.Its really only in our wildest dreams as to what they are producing outside the public eye, and most likely is being used, and we dont even have a clue.

The B-2 was out long before the development date that was released to the public. It came out about 15 years prior. The SR-71 was an awesome plane, but had a huge problem, it would sometimes explode on takeoff. Because of its high speed and high altitude capabilities, all the connection joints were flexible. On a number of occasions the fuel tanks spontaneously combusted destroying the aircraft on takeoff. A replacement has been in place for a while now, but I'm sure nobody will really see it for another decade or so. The SR-71 started out as a smaller light attack plane called the A-12. You can see one on the deck of the USS Intrepid in NYC. There's also one at NASA's Huntsville Space Center in Huntsville, Alabama.
As for Lockheed Martin, their testing and design facility for highly sensitive projects (Skunk Works) is based out of Groom Lake (Area 51). The Pasadena facility in California is where Boeing develops their sensitive projects (and is where the AL-1A started). Edwards is a testing site for NASA and various aircraft manufacturers because of its massive runway, stable climate, open surroundings, and facility capabilities. The F/A-22 is a Lockheed plane, and the YF-23 was Northrop Grumman.

[Savage_Messiah]

You can see one on the deck of the USS Intrepid in NYC.

No.

[SteveR]

No.

They still have it, its right here :)

http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/intrepidmuseum/aircraft/item.php?id=2

[Savage_Messiah]

They still have it, its right here :)

http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/intrepidmuseum/aircraft/item.php?id=2

OK... drive into the city right now and find it. Then come by my house so I can laugh at you :lol:

[SteveR]

OK... drive into the city right now and find it. Then come by my house so I can laugh at you :lol:

Its stealth, you cant see it :lol:

[jims69camaro]

it amazes me how much "vital" knowledge is public, these days. back when i was active, we were still held to "loose lips..." and anything we were instructed on was literally "eyes only". now, it's pretty much out there for anyone who wants to know.

thank god for area 51.

[SteveR]

That was always my favorite plane in all the ace combat games :)

I'm playing Ace Combat 6, and I can't stop flying the Rafale M! That plane is sick!