Tu-160s penetrate US airspace undetected

[encephalon]

What's even funnier is that they used Soviet Technology dating back to 1987.. so much for the US's "technological superiority in combat" :lol: Anyone care to explore the implications of Russia flying in US airspace? Do you think they're attempting to position themselves as "the other" superpower again?

Russian commander: Tu-160s penetrate US airspace undetected

A senior Russian air force commander has claimed that new, upgraded Tu-160 bomber aircraft were unchallenged by US air defence systems when they penetrated a radar zone near the Canadian coast in US territory during an April training excersise, reports the Russian news agency RIA Novoski.

Commander of the Russia's long-range strategic bombers, Lieutenant General Igor Khvorov said that the bombers successfully carried out four mock Tu-95MS cruise missile launches, 200 mock bombings, and 53 mock sorties during the exercise. The RIA Novosti reported that the US Air Force is currently investivating how the Tu-160's escaped detection.

Lieutenant General Igor Khvorov said, "They were unable to detect the planes either with radars or visually."

Khvorov denies any link of the tests to the current US-Iranian tension, saying, "Of course, our exercises did not have anything to do with the situation in Iran, but their organization indirectly echoed in that region."

The Tupolev Tu-160 is a strategic bomber introduced in 1987. It resembles the North American B-1B Lancer, but is larger and faster, being powered by four NK-32 afterburning turbofans, the largest in any combat aircraft. It is not considered to be a stealth aircraft due to its exposed engine inlets and broad wing gloves.

According to Khvorov over the course of this year, two addional Tu-160s will be commissioned for the long-range strategic bomber fleet with the numerous upgrades, including the ability to launch cruise missiles, aviation bombs, and satellite communication.

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Russian_comman...pace_undetected (http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Russian_commander:_Tu-160s_penetrate_US_airspace_undetected)

[Tekun]

No real implications from my perspective

Might scare the Americans...but spying has continued between the two countries since the "end" of the cold war, so this isn't new
:huh:

[encephalon]

spying, yes.. but playing wargames in the other's airspace, no. That almost seems like a blatant mockery of the US by the Russians to me; akin to "getting all up" in someone's face.

[Tekun]

Good point...
But I doubt the US will reprimand them for it, after all they need their vote against Iran at the UN
So, although it might be a wargame, I don't see much being done about it
They have their tension, but I doubt this has been the first of such actions done by either one of them (just imagine what hasn't been reported)

They'll just keep toying with themselves for the time being

[ComradeOm]

The Russians have always had decent heavy bombers but I suspect that this is more a flaw within the US defences than any upgrades to the planes. Most likely the US simply isn't bothered to keep a close eye on old cold war flashpoints.

[piet11111]

:lol: those russians are getting back with their old games i love it.

NORAD must be a madhouse right now america and russia never really left cold war mode anyway.

russian submarines for instance have been playing hide and seek on the edge of american territorial waters on numerous occasions.
i dont doubt some daredevils also went into american waters.

perhaps after the revolution we could try planting flags on enemy beaches with a nice sign that sub # was there.

[Dreckt]

Heh, the Russians got a sattelite image of Area 51 back in the 70's I think...

[Janus]

Whoah, the US must be pretty pissed and seriously embarrased by this. I'm guessing that the radar operators were just really lax since they don't expect much up there. But I guess that it's almost comparable to the Mathias Rust incident.

[encephalon]

Whoah, the US must be pretty pissed and seriously embarrased by this.

Which is probably why I've not heard anything about it on the national "news."

[Guerrilla22]

This is something Russia claims, but doesn't have any evidence to back up. Even if they did, who cares, it really doesn't prove much.