The Norwegian Air Force deployed two F-35 fighters to intercept and escort a pair of Russian Navy Tu-142MK anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
According to the German publication Flug Revue, the Russian aircraft, having taken off from an air base in northwestern Russia, covered up to 10,000 kilometers in 15 hours, flying over the waters of the Bay of Biscay and the North Atlantic, where they "met" with Norwegian fighters .
German magazine "Flug Revue" reported that "the Russian patrol" lasted 15 hours, covering a distance of 10,000 kilometers from the Bay of Biscay to the North Atlantic.
The "special mission" of the two Tu-142MK aircraft started from Kipelovo and aimed to test the newly installed Over-The-Horizon (OTH) radar in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Radar is essential for early detection of nuclear missile launches.
The OTH radar calibration test is not a combat mission but a practice or test mission. The Russian Air Force Tu-142MK maritime patrol aircraft plays a critical role in the calibration test of the newly installed OTH “Container” radar.
The Tu-142MKs are equipped with advanced sensors and electronic systems that allow them to detect and track surface and ground targets over a wide area. The primary objective of the OTH radar calibration test flight is to ensure that the radar is functioning properly, providing accurate information and data to its operators.
During the test flight, the Tu-142MK aircraft flies in predetermined patterns to cover various conditions, environments and altitudes. All information and data collected by the aircraft is transmitted to the radar operators, who use it to adjust the OTH radar parameters.
In addition to their role in radar calibration testing, the Tu-142MK aircraft also provide training opportunities for radar operators and analysts. The Tu-142MK maritime patrol and ASW aircraft are equipped with the "Korshun-K" radar to detect and track surface as well as underwater targets.
In addition to the two Tu-142MK anti-submarine aircraft, a Tu-95 bomber was also spotted flying off Alaska.
According to NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command), the Tu-95 bomber entered the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and remained there for about four hours. In response, NORAD deployed F-22 and F/A-18 fighter jets to intercept and escort the Russian bomber out of the North American ADIZ.
Russian attack submarines have conducted missions around the Irish Sea twice since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, three people familiar with the matter said. It is an unprecedented move by the Kremlin that has forced the British military to take action to protect British and Irish waters.
The first deployment of a Russian Kilo-class submarine near the Irish Sea, which separates the island of Ireland from Great Britain, happened about 18 months ago, said the people, who asked not to be named. The second incident occurred more recently. The extent of the submarine movements exceeded what British officials had previously seen, they said.
Two of the people said US officials were aware of the incidents. The UK Ministry of Defense said it does not "comment on operations" . "The US is monitoring Russian naval activity ," a senior Biden administration official said. White House spokesmen declined to comment on the latest report, and Russia's defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Kilo-class submarine is a Russian diesel-electric attack submarine capable of launching Kalibr cruise missiles, as well as torpedoes and naval mines.
The deployment of Russian submarines in the waters surrounding Britain and western Ireland during the Ukraine war was already known, although they have not previously been reported to have traveled to the Irish Sea.
Last month, the BBC reported that a Russian submarine had been spotted off the coast of Scotland. A spokesman for Ireland's Ministry of Defense said the agency does not comment on the operations of other countries' armed forces. Without linking it to the reports of Russian submarines, the spokesman said air and naval forces were carrying out "enhanced maritime patrols" near offshore energy infrastructure in the Irish Sea.
The US Naval Institute describes the Kilo program as "one of the most successful naval programs in modern history." More than 60 Kilo-class submarines remain in service, according to the institute. They have been used in the Black Sea to attack targets in Ukraine. Kilo-class submarines have a top speed of 17 knots on the surface or 20 knots submerged, according to a fact sheet on the US Naval Institute website.
According to a National Interest report, the "Kilo" class submarines are a never-ending nightmare for the US Navy, as they hide in shallow waters and can even sink an aircraft carrier.
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