NORAD scrambles figherts to intercept russian bombers

[darmil]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060929/russian_bombers_060929/20060929?hub=Canada

 

[peaches]

Once again the media has it's facts wrong...........

 

[big bad john]

http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=2093

News Release
NORAD intercepts Russian aircraft
NORAD - September 29, 2006

WINNIPEG, MAN. – North American Aerospace Defense Command launched three pairs of fighters Thursday evening from the command's Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) and the Alaskan NORAD Region (ANR) in response to Russian aircraft that penetrated North America’s Air Defense Identification Zone, according to NORAD officials.


“While the Russian air assets at no time violated Canadian or U.S. airspace, integrated air defense assets in and around CANR and ANR were able to detect, intercept and identify a number of the Russian Tu-95 Bear heavy bombers participating in an annual Russian air force exercise near the coast of Alaska and Canada,” said Maj. Gen. Brett Cairns, NORAD director of operations. “F-15s launched out of ANR intercepted the bombers off the west coast of Alaska. CF-18 fighters also launched out of CANR, but did not intercept any of the bombers,” said Cairns.

NORAD is a bi-national Canadian and United States organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning and aerospace control for North America. Aerospace warning includes the monitoring of man-made objects in space, and the detection, validation, and warning of attack against North America whether by aircraft, missiles, or space vehicles, utilizing mutual support arrangements with other commands. Aerospace control includes ensuring air sovereignty and air defense of the airspace of Canada and the United States.

While this response to the Russian bombers shows how NORAD continues to monitor the air approaches to North America, NORAD’s mission also focuses on airspace within North America. Since Sept. 11, 2001, NORAD has scrambled or diverted more than 2,200 times to execute its aerospace control mission for North America.

-30-

Note to editors: For more information, please contact Captain Jennifer Faubert at Canadian NORAD Region (204) 833-2500 ext 6795 or (204) 931-0739.

 

[peaches]

that's more accurate..... :

 

[Mike Baker]

Updated Fri. Sep. 29 2006 11:06 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

NORAD launched Canadian and American fighter jets to intercept two Russian bombers near U.S. airspace, officials said Friday.


Russian military officials had warned the United States the bombers would be conducting an exercise in the region. But as the planes crossed a 20-kilometre buffer zone around U.S. airspace, the NORAD planes moved in.


At about 6 p.m. ET Thursday, NORAD scrambled three pairs of fighter jets -- including two CF-18 jets from Cold Lake, Alta.


The American aircraft included four F-15s from Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska.


"It was the Americans who found the bombers first. They came to within metres of the bombers," reported CTV's David Akin. "There was no radio contact. After a period of time, the Russians turned and went home."


The bombers never crossed over into Canadian or U.S. airspace. And according to Major Jason Proulx, such incidents are not rare.


"It's not just something we do with foreign aircraft," he told CTV Newsnet. "NORAD is responsible for monitoring suspicious aircraft within our own domestic airspace as well."


Even though NORAD knew the Russian planes would be flying in the area, he said the incident was still "exciting" for the Canadian military.


"It's always exciting to be involved in this line of work," Proulx said.


"We have pilots and support people that train to do this; people that monitor the skies 24/7. And it's interesting when ... their training is put to the test. An example such as this was perfect: they're trained to do it, they responded, they intercepted and everything worked out great."