MILAVIA Forum
Military Aviation => Military Aviation News => Topic started by: Spotter21 on November 08, 2014, 04:05:31 PM
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Hello from Portugal.
Last week was very "hot" here in portuguese air space, by the russian visitors.
There was several intercept missions by our F-16's, in my blog there are the Portuguese Air Force photo's of the last TU-95 Bear intercepted in Portugal air space
TU-95 Bear intercepted (http://cannontwo.blogspot.pt/2014/11/tu-95-bear-interceptados-pela-forca.html)
Best Regards
Jorge Ruivo
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The real question is...could your aircraft have taken out the intruders, or were they effectively escorted with aircraft that could protect them?
All this is hypothetical, of course.
Shawn A.
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He's just promoting his blog I guess, I'll bite.
- The Russian Bears generally stay in international airspace on their long range atlantic missions, so it's not like they're intruders. I doubt "intercepted in Portugal air space
" is really true. The Russians probing Baltic QRA is another story.
- Unlike the Portuguese F-16s in the Baltics, looks like this F-16 only carries two Sidewinders, no AMRAAMs. Although useless this close, that's still concerning. Wondering if a second flight was covering by the time of the intercept, doubt it.
- No, close to Portuguese airspace there'd be no escorts for these Bears. The Russians have been sending accompanying Su-27/30s, A-50, Il-78 on Bear/Blackjack flights up north, but I think there's not been cases yet where they ventured past the Scottish isles. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I haven't heard of escorts for the Pacific flights either.
Finally, I'd like to say, looks it's the Air Force's Tu-95MS again, the "strategic deterrent". While we're all so busy worrying about them, let's not forget what's going on with the Russian Navy. I'm amazed/appalled to see these Borei-class subs entering service slowly but surely.