Fighter jets intercept Russian bombers after flying into Dutch airspace

[News_Editor]

Fighter jets intercept Russian bombers after flying into Dutch airspace

2011-06-08 11:19:31 GMT+7 (ICT)

THE HAGUE (BNO NEWS) -- Dutch, British and Danish fighter jets on Tuesday morning intercepted two Russian bombers which had crossed into Dutch airspace, the Dutch Ministry of Defense said. It is the third such incident this year.

A statement from the Dutch Defense ministry said two F-16 aircraft took off from Volkel Air Base on Tuesday to intercept two Russian Tupolev Tu-95 aircraft, which are large, four-engine strategic bombers and missile platforms. They are also known as Bears, its NATO reporting name.

"The Russians flew into the Dutch area of responsibility without making their identity known," the Dutch ministry said. "Combat leaders of the Air Operations Controls Station Nieuw Milligen gave the Dutch F-16s the order to approach the Bears."

The ministry said the F-16s intercepted the Russian aircraft when they entered airspace of which the Netherlands has the responsibility under NATO. The fighter jets followed the Russian planes until they left Dutch airspace, northwest of the city of Leeuwarden.

According to the Dutch government, fighter jets of the British and Danish air forces were already following the Russian bombers before they entered Dutch airspace. It was not clear if the Russian bombers had also flown into British or Danish airspace.

"The Quick Reaction Alert of the British Royal Air Force took over the escort [once the Russians left Dutch airspace]," the Dutch ministry said. The Danish and British governments did not comment on the incident.

In late January and early March, two Dutch F-16s also intercepted two Russian bombers which flew unannounced into Dutch airspace. Officials in Russia have not commented on the incidents.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-06-08

[geriatrickid]

The Russians have been doing this for years near North American airspace.

Bit of a shame to see this still going on. Russia keeps telling everyone they are not aggressive, blah blah blah. Surely they can practice over Siberia.

[coma]

I'll have it a guess if one got inside one of these 'bombers' they would find that it is probably set up as a recon platform,fitted with Intelligence gathering equipment, cameras, eaves dropping gear etc etc, more than a bomber. The cold war lives on.

[hehehoho]

The Russians have been doing this for years near North American airspace.

'Near' or 'into'. Big difference.

[bonobo]

I'll have it a guess if one got inside one of these 'bombers' they would find that it is probably set up as a recon platform,fitted with Intelligence gathering equipment, cameras, eaves dropping gear etc etc, more than a bomber. The cold war lives on.

Could be. Or they could have been regular planes sent to test NATO defenses, response times, etc.

Either way, I doubt it was an innocent mistake.

[EnSvenskTiger]

OH! Scary! The Russians are planning to invade Holland!

One of the biggest customers for Russian gas!

Think NOT! Just another advertise from your sponsor, the US military industrial complex.

Tiger

PS! How many Russian "U-2s" have the Netherlands shot down?

Edited June 8, 2011 by EnSvenskTiger

[Mario2008]

Just a regular test of NATO air defenses and to show that Russia is still there.

[geriatrickid]

The Russians have been doing this for years near North American airspace.

'Near' or 'into'. Big difference.

Yes and no. There are layers to be considered. Please use your friend Google. 2010 was a big year for Russian intrusions in North American airspace. QMI reported the following last year;'s incident that sparked a diplomatic incident;

Attempts by Russia to test Canadian airspace have been going on since 2007; military and intelligence analysts tell QMI Agency the frequency has been increasing since then, but one senior official described Wednesday's event as "not the usual s--t.""The response as always was a rapid, effective deterrent," Defence Minister Peter MacKay told QMI Agency."They were in the buffer zone," said MacKay, stressing that although the planes did not enter Canada's sovereign airspace, the bombers did come inside the 300 nautical mile zone that Canada claims."They did not give us any advance notice," said MacKay, adding that NORAD fighter jets have intercepted between 12 and 18 Russian bombers per year since 2007. After the CF-18s made contact with the Russians the pilots shadowed them until the bombers turned northeast and headed out of Canadian airspace.The TU-95 bomber, known as the Bear, is capable of carrying nuclear weapons and may have been loaded with warheads on this trip. One military analyst tells QMI Agency the Russians have been known to fly with nukes on board just to flex their muscle and prove to the world they are still a powerful country.

Canada like Holland gets a tad annoyed when Sergei, Yuri and the all the rest of Russia's happy wanderers fly around their airspace loaded with Russian nuclear ordinance.

[siampolee]

The Russians have been doing this for years near North American airspace.

Bit of a shame to see this still going on. Russia keeps telling everyone they are not aggressive, blah blah blah. Surely they can practice over Siberia.

One is led to wonder what the difference is between this alleged Russian intrusion into other sovereign states airspace and the somewhat more draconian invasion of sovereign states i.e. Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya etc. (they're the overt invaded sovereign states) by America and its allies ?

Methinks that the presumed Russian transgression is but small beer compared to the aforementioned transgressions by some of the western sovereign states.

[hehehoho]

Just a distraction as they drill the Arctic for oil.

[Scott]

The Russians have been doing this for years near North American airspace.

Bit of a shame to see this still going on. Russia keeps telling everyone they are not aggressive, blah blah blah. Surely they can practice over Siberia.

One is led to wonder what the difference is between this alleged Russian intrusion into other sovereign states airspace and the somewhat more draconian invasion of sovereign states i.e. Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya etc. (they're the overt invaded sovereign states) by America and its allies ?

Methinks that the presumed Russian transgression is but small beer compared to the aforementioned transgressions by some of the western sovereign states.

The difference is, that this topic isn't about that. It's about Russian incursions into foreign airspace.

Please stay on-topic.

[geriatrickid]

OH! Scary! The Russians are planning to invade Holland!

One of the biggest customers for Russian gas!

Think NOT! Just another advertise from your sponsor, the US military industrial complex.

Tiger

PS! How many Russian "U-2s" have the Netherlands shot down?

<deleted>? The Netherlands is a producer of natural gas, and in fact is one of the world's largest producers. Go visit Groningen the land where the Dutch have lots of gas. The Dutch have an excess of production over domestic needs so that they are an exporter. Just as you are wrong about the Dutch energy supply, your comments about the USA are incorrect. This has nothing to do with the USA and is all about the Russians trying to intimidate countries that have a political stance the Russians don't like. The Netherlands have every reason in the book to protect their borders as the last gang of goose steppers with bombers left the country in ruins. If you check your history, while Sweden was economically allied with the Nazis prospering from the supply of war ,materiel such as coal and steel, the Dutch were fighting for their freedom. Hence, the Dutch are going to be somewhat more anxious when boorish brutes show up unannounced.

What's up with the reference to a U2? The Russians did not not have U2s, but they did have the Yak25RV, the Myasischev Mystic series and of course he Mig 25 special reconnaisance jet. There really was no need for significant overflights over Dutch territory as the Dutch were not enslaving eastern Europe, nor were the Dutch threatening anyone. The Dutch were a peaceful nation during the period you reference and certainly were not funding terrorist states. It was an open nation which allowed freedom of information, so there was no need to send many spy flights. Russia on the other hand was a closed nation where access to information, a free press, and basic liberty was denied.

And you know what? That's sort of like the Russia today. You really are on a slippery slope when you try to excuse the Russian intrusion into the little harmless peaceful loveable nation of french fries and mayonnaise eaters. Word up, eastern Europe is free and the totalitarian savagery of the Russians has been pushed back to Belarus and Ossetia.

[Thongkorn]

Mr Putin is trying to show that Russia is still a world power , I live on the East coast of the UK, Russia. is always trying it on , The RAF scramble Typhon Fighter jets, One of the most up to date planes in the world , against a Plane that is out dated and slow. One day there is going to be an accident. for me the RAF should just shoot them down with ground to air missiles. end of story. Play with fire you get burnt.

[Naam]

The Russians have been doing this for years near North American airspace.

Bit of a shame to see this still going on. Russia keeps telling everyone they are not aggressive, blah blah blah. Surely they can practice over Siberia.

One is led to wonder what the difference is between this alleged Russian intrusion into other sovereign states airspace and the somewhat more draconian invasion of sovereign states i.e. Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya etc. (they're the overt invaded sovereign states) by America and its allies ?

Methinks that the presumed Russian transgression is but small beer compared to the aforementioned transgressions by some of the western sovereign states.

The difference is, that this topic isn't about that. It's about Russian incursions into foreign airspace.

Please stay on-topic.

for the record:

the media reporting is obviously not aware that there is "Dutch airspace" and "Dutch controlled airspace under its NATO commitments". the Russian long range bombers were intercepted over international waters of the North Sea.

[Riley'sLife]

Are we to believe that NATO does not test Russian air defense?

[geriatrickid]

Are we to believe that NATO does not test Russian air defense?

That was not the subject, but as a matter of policy, NATO does not intrude on Russian airspace. No need. Satellites accomplish the job now and Russia is filled with so many people with a grudge or grievance that information once guarded is volunteered.

[koheesti]

for the record:

the media reporting is obviously not aware that there is "Dutch airspace" and "Dutch controlled airspace under its NATO commitments". the Russian long range bombers were intercepted over international waters of the North Sea.

There is that one line in the OP, "they entered airspace of which the Netherlands has the responsibility under NATO.". But the casual reader can't be blamed for thinking they were actually flying over Holland the way the rest of the article is written.

[MrChangers]

Good to see this 50 year old classic turbo prop is still going strong. The "Bear" has outlived, unfortunately, the "Lightning" which was the UK's number 1 interceptor back in the 60's. They used to have daily probes and pilots wave to each other before going home. Very alarmist reporting as they are not bombing the living daylights out of civilians (or allies in the case of the USAF) in other countries.

[koheesti]

Good to see this 50 year old classic turbo prop is still going strong. The "Bear" has outlived, unfortunately, the "Lightning" which was the UK's number 1 interceptor back in the 60's. They used to have daily probes and pilots wave to each other before going home. Very alarmist reporting as they are not bombing the living daylights out of civilians (or allies in the case of the USAF) in other countries.

No reason to risk losing a modern plane.

[geriatrickid]

Good to see this 50 year old classic turbo prop is still going strong. The "Bear" has outlived, unfortunately, the "Lightning" which was the UK's number 1 interceptor back in the 60's. They used to have daily probes and pilots wave to each other before going home. Very alarmist reporting as they are not bombing the living daylights out of civilians (or allies in the case of the USAF) in other countries.

The USAF is not targeting civilians. This is different from the Russian air activities in Chechnya and most recently in Georgia which did target civilian areas. Nice try.

[Exsexyman]

Good to see this 50 year old classic turbo prop is still going strong. The "Bear" has outlived, unfortunately, the "Lightning" which was the UK's number 1 interceptor back in the 60's. They used to have daily probes and pilots wave to each other before going home. Very alarmist reporting as they are not bombing the living daylights out of civilians (or allies in the case of the USAF) in other countries.

The USAF is not targeting civilians. This is different from the Russian air activities in Chechnya and most recently in Georgia which did target civilian areas. Nice try.

"The USAF is not targeting civilians". But when they are firing missiles from unmanned drones 3 miles up, knowing that the likely result is the deaths of innocent civilians, which happens time and time again, it amounts to the same thing. The bravery of being out of range.

[Ulysses G.]

Warfare has been conducted from the air for 100 years.

[PhilHarries]

I'm surprised they still bother reporting this stuff. It's a regular occurrence and one the RAF flyers look forward to. Get a few more flying hours in and be home in time for tea. All quite civilised, i expect the pilots on both sides are on first name terms.

[kuffki]

I'll have it a guess if one got inside one of these 'bombers' they would find that it is probably set up as a recon platform,fitted with Intelligence gathering equipment, cameras, eaves dropping gear etc etc, more than a bomber. The cold war lives on.

What intelligence would they be gathering over Holland? How many cheese factory's still operating?

[kuffki]

Mr Putin is trying to show that Russia is still a world power , I live on the East coast of the UK, Russia. is always trying it on , The RAF scramble Typhon Fighter jets, One of the most up to date planes in the world , against a Plane that is out dated and slow. One day there is going to be an accident. for me the RAF should just shoot them down with ground to air missiles. end of story. Play with fire you get burnt.

Russia still is a world power, and is the only one who has influence over China, Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Syria, Burma and all other states where the entire world failed to achieve anything or show any influence even with all the sanctions.

Not to mention, not so long ago Russia threw out all UK officials and UK senior management of BP( i am not 100%, but one of the oil giants). UK government had to crawl back and seek compromise in hope to re-establish the relations.

Many also seem to forget European Winter less than 3 years ago, when Russia cut its gas supplies and Europe almost froze to death. So if anything, yeah Russia still is a superpower and world power especially in European region

1 very important factor to keep in mind is that Russia is fully self sufficient and has enough natural resources, manpower and brain cells to sustain its economy and living without any interactions with the rest of the world, but when they have, and always had states like China and Middle east as its partners, they really do not need to worry about the West.

They flew into other airspace to simply check the response time and response strategy, call it military exercise!

How else would Russian military intelligence gather this kind of information in regards to response time, response strategy, even the number of F-16's that were sent.

Edited June 9, 2011 by kuffki

[MrChangers]

Good to see this 50 year old classic turbo prop is still going strong. The "Bear" has outlived, unfortunately, the "Lightning" which was the UK's number 1 interceptor back in the 60's. They used to have daily probes and pilots wave to each other before going home. Very alarmist reporting as they are not bombing the living daylights out of civilians (or allies in the case of the USAF) in other countries.

The USAF is not targeting civilians. This is different from the Russian air activities in Chechnya and most recently in Georgia which did target civilian areas. Nice try.

The key phrase was "Allies". It's in the brackets if you need help spotting the real target (Like the USAF)

[Mossfinn]

They flew into other airspace to simply check the response time and response strategy, call it military exercise!

How else would Russian military intelligence gather this kind of information in regards to response time, response strategy, even the number of F-16's that were sent.

But the foreign militaries know it is fruitless, the incursions are followed at all times, sometimes they intercepy immediately, sometimes they let them through, it is all about cat and mouse.

If they stopped them immediately everytime, they would keep trying to find a weak spot, so defences deliberately let them through, other times they stop them at the furthest out reaches, other times a little way in.

Keeps everyone guessing