Russian Fighter Jet Buzzed U.S. Ship: Officials -- NBC
A Russian attack warplane engaged in "provocative action" when it repeatedly buzzed a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer in the western Black Sea on Saturday, U.S. military officials tell NBC News.
According to officials, in a 90-minute encounter, the Russian SU-24 fighter jet made a dozen low passes — ranging from sea level to several thousand feet — near the USS Donald Cook.
The crew aboard the Donald Cook made several attempts to radio the Russian warplane asking the pilot what were his intentions and sending warnings to remain at a safe distance, but the Russian pilot never responded.
The Donald Cook only responded to the Russian jet with radio warnings, and "did not go to battle stations."
Read more ....
Update: Russian jet passes near US warship -- AP
My Comment: If this story was not a big deal .... the US Navy/pentagon/White House would not be leaking this story to the AP. The fact of the matter is that it is a big story .... this encounter lasted 90 minutes and was done deliberately to send a message to the US Navy and the White House to "back-off".
Update: U.S. condemns Russian plane's passes near U.S. ship in Black Sea -- Reuters
4 comments:
Yes, they are harassing them, but what's not in the story is that the USS Cook and USS Truxton, the two ships in the area, could sink the entire Russian Black Sea fleet in about an hour, depending on their weapons loadout. Plus, you have a carrier strike group in the Eastern Med. And the Fencer, while a capable aircraft thirty years ago, was flying solely at the discretion of the U.S. Navy.
I think you overestimate the ability of the Arliegh Burkes in Russia's lake, and underestimate the ability of the Black Sea Fleet...As well as seriously underestimating how many ASM launchers the Russians could drive up to the shores or deliver via Backfires and Blackjacks without ever even leaving their own airspace.
Yes, the Cook could have splashed the Fencer. At which point, the Russians could respond in kind. Trading one fighter for two DDG's is NOT a good trade. Even President Obama can see that.
Orion
I concur Orion. USS Cook is in "Russia's backyard" .... or more to the point .... this is Russia's swimming pool. Shooting down the MIG would essentially be a declaration of war .... and Russia would be gunning for the USS Cook and USS Truxton within a few hours. The ending will not be good for both ships .... and I suspect that everyone knows that.
"I concur Orion. USS Cook is in "Russia's backyard" .... or more to the point .... this is Russia's swimming pool" which was the message Putin sent by Fencer. "Nice photo ops you've got there, care to keep them?"
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