Russia could double number of bombers on strategic patrols

[GOOSE]

From RIA Novosti -

The number of strategic bombers performing routine patrols could be doubled if the Russian General Staff makes such a decision, the commander of Russia's strategic aviation said Tuesday.

Russia resumed strategic bomber patrol flights over the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans, the Black Sea and along the borders of the Commonwealth of Independent States in August 2007, following an order from then-president Vladimir Putin.

"As a rule, up to four strategic bombers perform patrol flights simultaneously. However, under specific circumstances and on orders from the General Staff, their number could be increased to up to eight aircraft," Maj. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev said at a news conference in Moscow.

According to the general, the bombers can continuously patrol the skies for up to 22 hours with in-flight refueling provided by Il-78 Midas aerial tankers.

"Our planes also carry out missions to detect and pinpoint the location of foreign aircraft carriers, as well as to supply missions to support the activities of [Russian] polar stations in line with the concept of the development of our Arctic zone," Zhikarev said.

All flights by Russian aircraft are performed in strict compliance with international law on the use of airspace over neutral waters, without intruding the airspace of other states, the general reiterated.

According to various sources, in addition to 16 Tu-160 bombers, the Russian Air Force currently has 40 Tu-95MS bombers and 141 Tu-22M3 bombers in service.


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[T_J]

Not unknown for the Russians to make an appearance over the festive season. The Russians don't officially celebrate until January 7th. With the start of the Russian Strategic Aviation Winter Training Cycle it is more than likely that the Tu-160 Blackjacks will be out and about. Hopefully they will do some daylight missions so that the QRA can get some nice piccies.

TJ

[RichC]

It's not unknown either to have more than 4 bombers up at the same time....
I think it was in the later months of 2008 that Norwegian F16s scrambled to intercept 8 Russian Bears at once which came down to the oil fields and then returned back to Russia.

On another occasion there was a huge scramble of Norwegian and British QRA to intercept 4 Tu-160 Blackjacks and a number of Tu-95 Bear H's which were supported by several Il-78 tankers up near Norway. They did a show of force down into the oil fields once again before turning north.

And again i think the later months of 2008 a massive formation of 11 Tu-95 Bears took off from northern Russian and were intercepted by Norwegian F16s. This was the biggest formation since the cold war.

They do simultaneous strike patterns too against several countries at the same time. Two or more bombers will come down the coast of Norway and then into the North Sea whilst another formation would go over the Arctic towards Northern/Northern Western Canada and another formation would fly towards Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. All timed nicely to simulate certain patterns all within a certain time frame.

Anyway, you have to look at this way:-
Russia is still a huge country even without the soviet states. A very large country needs a very large air force, navy and army. They are doing "Nothing" more than re-organising and re-equiping an out dated joint force which has sat doing nothing but rusting away for 15 years or more.

With NATO swallowing up every available former warsaw pact country on the border with Russian they have full right to re-equip themselves as much as they can.
If you was the president of Russia, would you not feel threatened that your long running enemy has talked over your former friends in becoming allies and every border than Russia has is now NATO.
Some points to consider before you start judging what Russia is doing and assuming they are the aggressor:-

1. They cannot get out into the Atlantic with their warships or aircraft without being intercepted by NATO aircraft.
2. They cannot go under the Arctic without being shadowed by British and American submarines.
3. They cannot get out the Baltic sea into the Atlantic because Denmark, Estonia, Sweden, UK, Norway, etc are shadowing their every move.
4. They cannot get out into the Med Sea without going through a channel within a NATO country (Turkey) from their Black Sea bases.
5. They cannot, once in the Med Sea get out into the Atlantic without passing through a channel patrolled by NATO (Gibraltar) or on their way passing many NATO countries (Italy, Greece, Turkey, Spain, France).
6. They cannot go into the China Sea or Japan Sea without being shadowed by Japanese or American aircraft/warships.
7. They cannot go into the Pacific without being shadowed by American, Japanese or Canadian aircraft/warships
8. Inland they are landlocked by many NATO countries on all sides including their former allies of the cold war (Eastern bloc) of which are now providing bases (formerly used by the USSR) for American aircraft.
9. NATO are now looking to take in Georgia, another former Warpac country which is on their southern border and disputed. So NATO are trying to gather in countries which are still hotly disputed with Russia and of which are under near civil war.
10. They cannot even patrol their long time safe haven of the Black Sea without NATO warships and aircraft operating from former Russian bases shadowing them.
11. They sit back and watch NATO and America attack countries which were big allies of Warpac in the Middle East with an ever growing presence of American troops in all the countries bordering the land locked regions of Russia.

So, with NATO expanding aggressively (fast) through the former soviet states, isn't it no wonder that the Russians feel a little peed off and don't they have the right to up their defence situation from dormant to active?
I know if i was president of Russia, i would!

[T_J]

The Bears and Blackjacks will still be around for a while yet with announced upgrades. The replacement platform is expected in the 2025-2030 timeframe.

'Russia to commission new stealth bomber in 2025-2030'

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'Russia’s new strategic bomber will use stealth technologies and is expected to enter service in 2025-2030, the commander of Russia’s strategic aviation said on Tuesday.

According to Maj. Gen. Anatoly Zhikharev, the stealth technology will make "the new aircraft difficult to detect by radar, although it is impossible to make airplanes of this type completely invisible.”

"However, new technologies and materials will help reduce the possibility of detection,” Zhikarev said, adding that the new airplane was expected to enter service in 2025-2030.

The new strategic bomber will replace the Tu-95MC Bear and Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers, and Tu-22M3 Backfire long-range bombers currently in service with Russia’s strategic aviation.

According to various sources, in addition to 16 Tu-160 bombers, the Russian Air Force currently has 40 Tu-95MS bombers and 141 Tu-22M3 bombers in service.

These aircraft will form the backbone of the Russian strategic aviation in the next decade following extensive modernization.

“We expect to receive two upgraded Tu-160 planes from the Kazan plant and to have two more aircraft in for repair by the end of December, so this process is continuous,” Zhikharev said.

The general said the modernization included the overhaul of obsolete communications, electronic warfare, targeting, and fire-control systems.

“We are planning to complete this modernization by 2015,” he added.
MOSCOW, December 22 (RIA Novosti)'

The Russians already had in service the longest ranged air launched cruise missiles. This capability has been increased with the next generation. The likes of the Bear can stand-off thousands of kilometres from their intended targets. Links to images.

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http://paralay.com/t60/101.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

TJ

[Chough]

Bring back the Royal Observer Corps !!

I've still got the binoculars and being a bit of a Corporal Jones type, I'm still keen to have a go.

Those were the days.

Can you inagine the excitement of low flying Hunters and the like for ROC exercises - amd we actually got paid to carry out such activites.

Sorry to get carried away, started a bit early today on the sauce.

Seasonal greetings to one and all.

[GOOSE]

This might be a good time to reduce the RAF's front line fighting force and reduce the RAF strength by say, 25%
Oh, and as a gesture of goodwill, we could mothball some of our Boeing Sentrys.

OOOhhh your thoughts are awful, but I like them..........

[GOOSE]

Flying_Warden, I appreciate your comments.

As an aside, there are a large collection of projects, in private ownership and listed in "Wrecks and Relics", around you fair town.

Any chance of an update???