CF-18s intercept Russian Bomber

[Canada 02]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servl.../politics/home

A Russian military bomber came close to breaching northern Canadian airspace just prior to U.S. President Barack Obama's visit here last week, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said today.

Norad fighters immediately intercepted it and turned it away, he said. CF-18s took off from Cold Lake, Alta.

The incident took place about 24 hours before Mr. Obama journeyed to Canada for his first foreign visit.

Mr. MacKay said the flight is one of an increasing number of such stunts by the Russian military planes in the North.

seems like an appropriate time to break out this quote:

"As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where– where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border." --Sarah Palin,

[CaptainCrunch]

Ah, cold weather cold war, next thing we're going to have to break out the white polyester disco suits.

[worth]

Let's get it on! Nothin' like an arms buildup to turn around a slumping economy!

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by worth

Let's get it on! Nothin' like an arms buildup to turn around a slumping economy!

Yep, WWII and Depression. Clearly, somebody is dusting off the old playbook...

[SportsJunky]

We have a Defence Minister?

[awildermode]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

We have a Defence Minister?

Robyn Regehr

[STeeLy]

Originally Posted by SportsJunky

We have a Defence Minister?

I know this is a joke. But a bunch of my friends and I met him at the Grey Cup festivities in Downtown Montreal this past Grey Cup. Seemed like a fairly nice guy for the brief moment we talked.

My friend was looking around for someone and sees McKay and just looked at us and said: Does that guy look extremely like Peter McKay?

[GoinAllTheWay]

Just read that article myself and you really have to wonder why? The Russians know we are watching (Kinda surprised to say that cause I really had no idea we were) and that we will intercept them.

What is the point behind such a stunt? Maybe they are just trying to figure out if our handful of F18's can still fly?

[DESS]

That's crazy. And I know crazy.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by STeeLy

I know this is a joke. But a bunch of my friends and I met him at the Grey Cup festivities in Downtown Montreal this past Grey Cup. Seemed like a fairly nice guy for the brief moment we talked.

My friend was looking around for someone and sees McKay and just looked at us and said: Does that guy look extremely like Peter McKay?

A friend of mine went to HS with Peter McKay. Apparently he always liked to play the, "Do you know who my dad is?" card, so Peter wasn't a very popular fellow in those days.

[zukes]

Bomb them!

[worth]

NORAD watches the whole sky and tracks everything coming close and entering North American Air Space. So they would definitely know about incoming Russian aircraft.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Warning_System

I'm surprised about deployment time though. When you figure out a Russian aircraft is on a North American heading, you have to scramble fighters from cold lake to the Arctic? Seems like too far of a distance to travel to intercept before they enter our air space. I would think it is much more likely that US Aircraft from Alaska intercepted the Russian bomber rather than Canadian Aircraft from Cold lake.

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Just read that article myself and you really have to wonder why? The Russians know we are watching (Kinda surprised to say that cause I really had no idea we were) and that we will intercept them.

What is the point behind such a stunt? Maybe they are just trying to figure out if our handful of F18's can still fly?

It's standard - both sides do it to test the other side's detection and response effectiveness, so that when they are coming hot & heavy with real cruise missiles they know where they have to release before being intercepted.

[mykalberta]

The Russian economy is bankrupt and the rubel is dropping faster that a Braillian Hooker after Carnival. With the drop in commodity prices combined with thier anti private buisness, no western companies will move in. That country is headed down a very dangerous path.

Similar to Venezuala except they carry a bigger stick.

Frankly, it couldnt have happened to a bigger prick than putin.

[LChoy]

Usually it's the USAF that scrambles out of bases in Alaska but it also depends on the vector. If it's clearly coming from the High north, it'll be us that scrambles the Fighters. If it's from Siberia coming in East towards Alaska, it'll be the Americans.
I believe Cold Lake is the furthest North airbase that we have

[Madman]

I feel it's actually in our best interest that the Russians keep this up. It's a great reminder that our northern sovereignty is not something we can just hope stays safe if we wish hard enough.

How long a flight is it from Cold Lake to the northern border? Was the proposed northern Canadian military base that the PM talked about going to station any interceptors?

Sure would have been nice to intercept those Bears with an Arrow.

[Joborule]

All we need to do is to build a base up in the arctic, teach polar bears how to fly bombers, and then Canadian sovereignty is a guarantee. Those Russians will be flying back home before they finsh crossing the ocean.

Bears can be useful!

[Madman]

I meant this kind of bear:

[VladtheImpaler]

Originally Posted by Madman

I meant this kind of bear:

I am probably the only nerd who got the reference.

[STeeLy]

I guess now that you've clarified the bear, I understand what arrows you're talking about now.