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Source: The Western Journal
Taylor Penley | June 22, 2021
U.S. President Joe Biden's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin captured headlines around the world last week.
Both leaders characterized the exchange as "generally positive" — many saw it differently — and Biden explained the face-to-face encounter was necessary in a time of mounting tensions between Russia and the United States, according to CNN.
But what's taking place between the American Navy and a Russian fleet off the coast of Hawaii now is less than cordial.
According to the U.K. Daily Mail, "Russian warships, submarines, and support vessels, flanked by 20 fighter jets" are practicing maneuvers to sink aircraft carriers in the Pacific.
According to the report, Russia's defense ministry confirmed its fleet successfully completed the practice maneuver and sank an aircraft carrier — only 35 nautical miles off the coast of Hawaii.
Russia claims its fleet is stationed 300 miles off the coast of Hawaii, but unconfirmed satellite images from June 19 tell a story that places the Russians at the much-closer 35-nautical mile distance (about 40 standard miles), the Daily Mail reported.
The U.S. has responded by sending F-22 fighter jets to the scene twice within the last month, The U.S. Sun reported Tuesday.
Since Russian bombers never entered the Hawaii Air Defense Identification Zone — an area that typically grants the country in subject more time to respond to unknown or potentially hostile aircraft — they were never intercepted by either group of fighters, the Daily Mail reported.
As alarming as the scenario sounds on its own, imagining what this could mean for the future of U.S.-Russia relations is much worse.
Russia's defense ministry has released videos of the maneuvers.
The development has put the Pentagon on its toes, anticipating any potentially hostile move that could come next.
Please go to The Western Journal to read more.
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Source: Air Force Times
Spike in Russian aircraft intercepts straining Air Force crews in Alaska, three-star says
By Rachel Cohen | Apr 29 2021
Intercepting record numbers of Russian aircraft off of North America's west coast has stretched Air Force units thin, a top service official in Alaska said Wednesday.
"We have certainly seen an increase in Russian activity. We intercepted over 60 aircraft last year. … We monitor more than that," Lt. Gen. David Krumm said from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, during an online forum hosted by the Air Force Association.
That's the most action the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone — a region spanning 200 nautical miles that reaches past U.S. territory and into international airspace — has seen since the Soviet Union fell in 1991. In comparison, the Anchorage Daily News reported in 2015 that the ADIZ averaged about 10 incursions by Russian aircraft each year, like Tu-95 Bear bombers, anti-submarine aircraft, and intelligence-collection planes.
In response, the Air Force deploys F-22 fighter jets, E-3 airborne surveillance planes and KC-135 tankers to escort Russian aircraft away. The flights come as world powers jockey for influence in the Arctic, a growing hotspot of domestic and military activity.
"While there is a strain on our units, I will tell you that they're managing it very, very effectively," said Krumm, who serves as head of U.S. Northern Command's Alaska branch, NORAD’s Alaskan region, and the 11th Air Force under Pacific Air Forces.
The military sends F-22s from JBER to meet up with the Russians because the Raptors are based nearby in Alaska, but Krumm indicated the Air Force may be open to dispatching other types of jets in the future so Raptors can focus on more complex missions and training. The F-16 Fighting Falcons at nearby Eielson AFB, Alaska, could offer a fourth-generation jet alternative.
"F-22s are our frontline air superiority fighter," he said. "There is a cost. … I don't know all the options that we're going to pursue yet."
NORTHCOM and NORAD boss Gen. Glen VanHerck warned House lawmakers on April 14 that the U.S. must be able to detect and respond to all potential airborne threats as Russia improves its bomber fleets and other long-range aircraft. The Defense Department is considering its options for modernizing a network of satellites, radars and other sensors and assets that would help the military pick up on suspicious behavior sooner and to collaborate across the force to address it.
Please go to Air Force Times to read more.
Source: Air Force Times
Spike in Russian aircraft intercepts straining Air Force crews in Alaska, three-star says
By Rachel Cohen | Apr 29 2021
An F-22 Raptor from the North American Aerospace Defense Command intercepts a Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber in international airspace near Alaska on Oct. 19. NORAD said F-22s intercepted two Tu-95s, as well as a pair of Russian fighters, but that they did not enter American or Canadian airspace. (NORAD)
Intercepting record numbers of Russian aircraft off of North America's west coast has stretched Air Force units thin, a top service official in Alaska said Wednesday.
"We have certainly seen an increase in Russian activity. We intercepted over 60 aircraft last year. … We monitor more than that," Lt. Gen. David Krumm said from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, during an online forum hosted by the Air Force Association.
That's the most action the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone — a region spanning 200 nautical miles that reaches past U.S. territory and into international airspace — has seen since the Soviet Union fell in 1991. In comparison, the Anchorage Daily News reported in 2015 that the ADIZ averaged about 10 incursions by Russian aircraft each year, like Tu-95 Bear bombers, anti-submarine aircraft, and intelligence-collection planes.
In response, the Air Force deploys F-22 fighter jets, E-3 airborne surveillance planes and KC-135 tankers to escort Russian aircraft away. The flights come as world powers jockey for influence in the Arctic, a growing hotspot of domestic and military activity.
"While there is a strain on our units, I will tell you that they're managing it very, very effectively," said Krumm, who serves as head of U.S. Northern Command's Alaska branch, NORAD’s Alaskan region, and the 11th Air Force under Pacific Air Forces.
The military sends F-22s from JBER to meet up with the Russians because the Raptors are based nearby in Alaska, but Krumm indicated the Air Force may be open to dispatching other types of jets in the future so Raptors can focus on more complex missions and training. The F-16 Fighting Falcons at nearby Eielson AFB, Alaska, could offer a fourth-generation jet alternative.
"F-22s are our frontline air superiority fighter," he said. "There is a cost. … I don't know all the options that we're going to pursue yet."
NORTHCOM and NORAD boss Gen. Glen VanHerck warned House lawmakers on April 14 that the U.S. must be able to detect and respond to all potential airborne threats as Russia improves its bomber fleets and other long-range aircraft. The Defense Department is considering its options for modernizing a network of satellites, radars and other sensors and assets that would help the military pick up on suspicious behavior sooner and to collaborate across the force to address it.
Please go to Air Force Times to read more.
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