Two Russian bomber aircraft flew over Icelandic airspace last Wednesday. According to the website of the Icelandic Department of Defense, the two Russian TU-95s, collectively called “The Bears”, flew from the Northeastern part of the country to the Southeastern part of the country between the Faroe Islands and Iceland. The Russian TU-95s were about 50 nautical miles (92km) from the Icelandic coast.
The aircraft flew out of Icelandic radar coverage 250nm (463km) from the southern part. NATO will be investigating this matter further, according to Morgunbladid.
(Photo/MBL.is)
The Danish Airforce has currently 4 F16 fighters stationed here in Iceland as a part of NATO exersice for 2-3 weeks, last time they came in 09 some Russian Tupole-95 “Big Bear” long range bombers flew into Icelandic airspace, causing some major panic amongst the Danes, this time Tupolev-160’s few into our aispace to scare our Nordic friends ;), the Tupolev 160 “Black jack” is the biggest supersonic jet in the world.
I wonder why the danes bother getting worked up over this every single time, because when they are gone, a few days from now, Russian military planes can and will do what ever they want in Icelandic airspace, its ok to scramble and fly agaist them to divert them to a different course, but no panic is necessary,
the cold war is over and the world is in peace, nice and stable,
Russian bombers practicing bomb runs is nothing to worry about.
http://www.ruv.is/frett/herthotur-i-nand-vid-island
Iceland is paying NATO for this nonsense.
Still remember the respect shown by NATO over the Serbian airspace in 1999.
Nah, I have nothing against Russians, just sometimes they think they can fly wherever and whenever they want without any respect to airspace. :)
What exactly is wrong in my words?
And if I’m wrong – why there was no cry when more advanced Tu-160 flew same route a year ago?
Innlent | mbl.is | 19.9.2008 | 17:20
Rússar flugu í gegn í gær
Tvær rússneskar sprengjuflugvélar af gerðinni TU-160 flugu í gegnum loftrými Íslands í gær á heimleið frá Venesúela, eftir að hafa tekið þátt í heræfingum á Karíbahafi.
Urður Gunnarsdóttir, fjölmiðlafulltrúi utanríkisráðuneytisins…
„Þeir hafa oft verið að fljúga upp undir heilan hring í kringum landið en núna gerðu þeir það ekki heldur sneyddu hjá í gegnum svæðið á milli Íslands og Færeyja. Þetta var eitt stysta flug sem þeir hafa tekið, rétt um klukkutími,“
But if you prefer to listen to the old song “Rússarnir koma!” – fine with me… I understand – nostalgia and all that… :-)
Alexander, that is typical what Russians want to say. ;) So sorry, you are wrong.
upd
A year ago – in September 2008 – two Tu-160 (supersonic strategic bombers) flew same route.
NATO fighters escorted the two Russian bombers on their 13-hour trip to Venezuela over the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans.
Joi. If you have many years of experience – I MUST be aware of that this is standard route for Soviet and now Russian Tu-95 and Tu-160 from their base in Engels (middle of Russia) to Atlantic. And yes – they fly to the north over Murmans then turn westward over northen coast of Norway. And they do it on regular basis. So the only two reasons for this news – as I see it – either stupidity or attempt to divert attention from real problems.
And yes NATO is well aware of time and route of the flights.
Hope that clears it up.
PS. Most likely this is training and submarines support mission.
aaaahhhhhh *!*
thx for the explenation!
Hey Max,
Actually, if you want to get even more technical about this, Reykjavik Flight Information Region, or ICAO BIRD-FIR, covers all aircraft IFR from FL055 (Flight Level 5500 feet on standard QNH settings 1013 hectopascals) up to FL550 (Flight Level 55000 feet also on standard pressure). These airspaces are restricted for VFR aircraft, therefore transitional aircraft are usually under IFR flight plan, meaning they need to maintain contact with Radar coverage ATC at all times.
The way Russians are able to sneak into Western waters is probably and I am just guessing via Murmansk Oceanic FIR. There is no way to really tell where an aircraft is over Oceanic airspace without position reports from the pilot. Murmansk Oceanic borders Bodo, Norway which then borders Reykjavik FIR, under callsign Iceland Radio. Murmansk probably did not hand off the aircraft to Bodo, therefore Bodo wouldn’t know about these aircraft unless they snuck into their radar coverage, which I am sure the Russians have studied very well. Unforatunately, somedays Iceland’s radar coverage is really good and can stretch out rather far in the East Sector, almost 200nm out from the coast. This is still Icelandic airspace as I said from FL055-FL550. If the TU95s flew below FL550 on VFR further than 12nm from the coast then that would be okay. But that would just start a war if you see a Russian bomber flying that low over NATO airspace.
So you are right basically. It is international waters, but the waters are international, not the air above FL055. Also, the fish belong to Iceland at the same time, I beleive we fought a war with Britain to get that right. So these “international” waters are not so “international”. :)
Hope that clears it up. (Source: I have many years of experience in Icelandic aviation)
just want to check something, according to wikipedia (which is as we all know not without flaws) airspace is defined as “…the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a particular country on top of its territory and territorial waters…” and territotial waters are defined as “… is a belt of coastal waters extending at most twelve nautical miles from the baseline (usually the mean low-water mark) of a coastal state.” so …. if we now put the stuff together: “Two Russian bomber aircraft flew over Icelandic airspace”, “were about 50 nautical miles (92km) from the Icelandic coast” and Icelandic airspace extends twelve nautical miles from the baseline/coast … something doesnt add up.
French fighter jets had to be dispatched from Keflavik airport to escort the bombers away and ensure the safety of commercial flights. So, if Iceland cancels its patrols in future, then Iceland Air and Iceland Express passengers will start peering nervously out of the windows.
Russia’s just checking out what they’re buying :)
Fisy. It was Morgunbladid PR guys. They have no other news except routine Tu-95 flights? No more problems in Iceland? Or is this exactly their purpose – to entertain you with “Russian bear”?
And it was not Icelandic airspace at all. It’s international airspace. It’s just Icelandic air traffic control zone.
20 years since the Cold War is over for the Eastern Europe, but the West is still in the film.
I dont see what difference it makes if Russian bombers are flying in our airspace, or Russian subs in our waters, we are not at war with Russia, not even a financial war, actually Russia is the friendliest nation we do busyness with, there has never in history been anything but good will between those two country´s,
actually Iceland is considering stopping all air patrol in our airspace, a waste of money for no reason at all, the west fears “Communists” and Terrorists”
now that we are on the other side of the fence its easier to see how stupid this ideology is,
i wonder what comes next, when the “Terror threat” wears out, probably what ever scares you.
Nice Jim.
Russian PR gurus have found a cheap way to keep their country in the news.
Or were they just cutting across to save on that expensive aviation fuel ?
I would have a problem if unauthorised Russian bombers were flying over London, even if they were so very environmentally friendly that they had badges on cockpit windows showing exemption from the congestion charge.
What’s your problem, Jim?
As of April 2008, 94 B-52 aircraft were still operational within the U.S. Air Force.
And they for sure flying over Icelandic and Russian “airspace”.
On 21 January 1968, a B-52G, with four nuclear bombs aboard as part of Operation Chrome Dome, crashed on the ice of the North Star Bay while attempting an emergency landing at Thule Air Base, Greenland.. The resulting fire caused extensive radioactive contamination, the cleanup of which lasted until September of that year.
And Tu-95 are very environment friendly planes btw :-)
I hope you’ll acknowledge our take over with good manners or …. you already know it :)))
And Iceland is thinking of taking loans from these guys? Seriously, WTF!!! Iceland should allow the British to help patrol their skies again. Here’s a video from a Russian TU-95 bomber that’s being shadowed by Royal Air Force fighter jets:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxCnDqbzxd8