Reconnaissance & Intercept.

This is coolbert:

From Harry at Sharkhunters and thanks to MARCONI we have this item:

"This past week, Russian Tu-95MS 'Bear' bombers, supported by IL-78 'Midas' fighters [refueling tankers, a modified Il-76] have been operating off the coasts of California and Alaska.  They were intercepted by USAF F-22 fighters.  What is going on and where will it end?  Who is testing whom?"

The Cold War deja vu all over again!

There has not been any sort of this stuff in a period of more than twenty years. Now back to the future.

As reported by several sources, story line by Bill Gertz in some instances.

1. "Russian jet nearly collides with U.S. surveillance aircraft in ‘reckless’ intercept in Asia"


"A Russian Su-27 jet flew dangerously close to a U.S. reconnaissance plane over the Pacific northeast recently in an aerial clash not seen since the Cold War."

"An Air Force RC-135 electronic intelligence jet was flying a surveillance run some 60 miles off the Russian Far East coast, north of Japan, on April 23 when the incident occurred, according to defense officials familiar with the incident."

2. "Intelligence: Another Sign The Cold War Has Returned"
  

"June 11, 2014: It was recently revealed that in April a Russian Su-27 fighter buzzed an American RC-135 signals (electronic) reconnaissance aircraft off the Pacific coast of Russia. Without making radio contact the Su-27 flew within 30 meters (100 feet) of the RC-135 while both were in international airspace."

3. "Russian Bombers Fly Within 50 Miles of California Coast"

"U.S. F-22, F-15 jets intercept four Bear H bombers near Alaska, Northern California"

"Four Russian strategic bombers triggered U.S. air defense systems while conducting practice bombing runs near Alaska this week, with two of the Tu-95 Bear H aircraft coming within 50 miles of the California coast"

Tit for tat type of action presumably in response to the Ukraine crisis that does no one any good.

coolbert.