RAF Jets Fly On Baltic Policing Mission

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

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Russian Cargo Plane in the Baltic Is an 'Act of Aggression', US Spy Planes in the Baltic -- a Shoulder Shrug

 

Brits buzz Russian cargo planes off the coast of Russia -- London defense minister calls it an 'act of Russian aggression'

 

This Thursday the government of the United Kingdom once more stood in defense of civilization and the little guy, and stood up to a terrible danger emanating from the east. Afterwards the British Defense Minister Michael Fallon could rightly proudly proclaim:

 

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"This is another example of just how important the UK’s contribution to the Baltic Air Policing Mission is. We were able to instantly respond to this act of Russian aggression - demonstration of our commitment to NATO’s collective defence."

 

What was this "act of Russian aggression" the Brits so bravely and instantly responded to?

 

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The jets, which deployed to the region less than three weeks ago, were scrambled from Amari air base in Estonia, to intercept three Russian aircraft approaching the Baltic states. The military transport aircraft identified as AN-26 ‘Curl, AN-12 ‘Cub’ and IL-76 ‘Candid’ were intercepted as they were not transmitting a recognised identification code and were unresponsive.

 

The great act of Russian aggression consisted of three unarmed and unescorted lumbering cargo planes "approaching the Baltic states".

 

Doubtlessly the Russians never crossed into the airspace of the Baltic states or the UK gov't would have said so. The Russians' aggression of "approaching" we're left with is obviously ludicrous. It's impossible to approach and land in Russia's Kaliningrad or Saint Petersburg without also "approaching" the nearby non-Russian territories.

 

Most likely the Russians were hauling cargo to their Kaliningrad exclave and switched off their transponders to mess with the Brits and make them spend fuel. That's mischievous of the Russians but it's hardly "aggression".

 

In fact let's recall that a few weeks before when Russian fighters intercepted a US RC-135 "intelligence gathering jet" (likewise with its transponders turned off) NATO's spin was that Russians were obviously insane since the spy plane had been on a routine mission in international space.

 

So how's that logic for you? British planes taking off from Estonia to intercept unarmed Russian cargo planes just off the coast of Russia isn't aggressive Brits harassing Russians on their doorstep. It's valiant and necessary for the plucky Englishmen "to instantly respond" to such "Russian aggression". 

 

Meanwhile US spy planes incessantly surveilling Russia's coastline over 6,000 kilometres away from any American territory is nothing to get worked up and the Russians are obviously paranoid for being intolerant of it.

 

 

[FunkyMike]

On 05/05/2016 at 10:24 PM, Mirumir said:

And here's another perspective.

 

 

 

Did the Russians disable the Aegis system on the Donald Cook again with this latest flyby?

 

I read that the Donald Cook and the Polish naval force were testing their new anti submarine / magnetic anomaly detectors on their SH-2G helicopters. Guess that testing electronics warfare equipment 70km from Russian shores gets this kind of attention.

[Jack W]

Five Russian jets were intercepted by two RAF Typhoons, as the jets were threatening Estonian airspace in the Baltic region.

 

The Russian jets turned off their transponders to make it harder for them to be detected.

 

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RAF Typhoons roared into the skies to confront five Russian planes threatening Estonian airspace, the Ministry of Defence revealed on Tuesday.

Two British fighters were scrambled to intercept the aircraft as part of Nato’s Baltic Air Policing mission.

The 1,500mph jets, which are temporarily stationed at Estonia’s Amari air base, initially found a pair of Su-27 Flanker fighters and an IL-20 Coot-A spy plane.

UK crews then spotted two more Su-27s, in the latest show of aggression by the Kremlin earlier today.

Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/raf-typhoons-confront-five-russian-7992033

[FunkyMike]

So the jets were in international airspace?

 

 

[Anibal P]

6 minutes ago, FunkyMike said:

So the jets were in international airspace?

 

 

 

International till Putin illegally annexes Estonia 

[Morisato]

41 minutes ago, Anibal P said:

 

International till Putin illegally annexes Estonia 

Or do what the Chinese did and build man-made islands to claim new territory. To be fair, countries do this all the time to whomever they're bordered with and not an ally of.

 

http://www.euronews.com/newswires/3195871-china-demands-end-to-us-surveillance-after-aircraft-intercept/

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

Keep wasting more fuel and resources.

 

It's impossible to approach and land in Russia's Kaliningrad or Saint Petersburg without also "aggressively threatening" the nearby non-Russian territories.

 

 

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as they flew in international airspace along the northern and western borders of Estonia.

 

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 Today we again demonstrated the RAF’s ability to launch our Quick Reaction Alert aircraft quickly to investigate aircraft operating in the vicinity of the Baltic states as part of our support to the Nato Baltic Air Policing mission.

 

Russian jets flying in international airspace in accordance with the law are being aggressive and threatening. US/NATO spy planes sneaking up on Russia is business as usual.

 

 

[ANON86364]

On ‎5‎/‎20‎/‎2016 at 8:55 AM, Mirumir said:

EsKeep wasting more fuel and resources.

 

It's impossible to approach and land in Russia's Kaliningrad or Saint Petersburg without also "aggressively threatening" the nearby non-Russian territories.

 

 

 

 

Russian jets flying in international airspace in accordance with the law are being aggressive and threatening. US/NATO spy planes sneaking up on Russia is business as usual.

 

 

Estonia is a member of NATO and an ally. The Chihuahua is barking over it's fence again.

[Ravensky]

On ‎5‎/‎5‎/‎2016 at 0:43 AM, FloatingFatMan said:

And?  I'm not saying the Russians aren't doing this. I'm saying you're naive in the extreme if you don't think YOUR armed forces aren't doing exactly the same thing.

 

Our armed forces don't have to, we just send drones to do it... lol

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

3 hours ago, Bryan R. said:

Estonia is a member of NATO and an ally. 

If Estonia has a legitimate problem with Russia, there are many venues out there where it can present its case against its neighbour.

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

4 hours ago, Bryan R. said:

Estonia is a member of NATO and an ally. The Chihuahua is barking over it's fence again.

Don't make me laugh. What do they contribute to NATO? Slingshots?? The Truth is NATO=THE USA.

[ANON86364]

1 hour ago, Mirumir said:

If Estonia has a legitimate problem with Russia, there are many venues out there where it can present its case against its neighbour.

I'm sure that would go well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonia%E2%80%93Russia_relations

1 hour ago, Gary7 said:

Don't make me laugh. What do they contribute to NATO? Slingshots?? The Truth is NATO=THE USA.

The point is, the US has a right to be there where Russia does not which is completely contrary to what @Mirumir said here.

[+Gary7 Subscriber²]

Yes I know but if Russia is flying in international airspace , NATO nor The US can't  do anything about it. My God Russia buzzed one of our ships several times and Obama did nothing. Putin know what a coward he is and will do as he pleases. If Estonia is relying on The Obama Admin to do anything, they would be better off with slingshots /s

[+Mirumir Subscriber¹]

2 hours ago, Bryan R. said:

I'm sure that would go well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonia%E2%80%93Russia_relations

So? What exactly are you having a problem with? 

 

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The point is, the US has a right to be there where Russia does not which is completely contrary to what @Mirumir said here.

Do you even know where Kaliningrad is? Please do show me how one can fly from St. Petersburg for example to Kalinigrad without also "aggressively threatening" the Baltics as they say.