US aircraft carrier scrambles fighter jets to intercept approaching Russian bombers off Korea

While on patrol near the Korean peninsula in the Sea of Japan, the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan received some unwanted company when two Russian Tu-142 "Bear" bombers flew within "one nautical mile" and (five hundred feet above sea level) of the aircraft carrier. The U.S. Navy responded by sending a squadron of U.S. Navy F/A-18 "Super Hornet" fighters to escort the Russian aircraft back to their respective airspace. While the move was odd, the type of bomber that flew near the Reagan was most likely not threatening, considering it is used mostly against submarines and for reconnaissance purposes.

This is intriguing for a few reasons. One, Russia has no interest in the Pacific- China's man-made islands and North Korea's erratic behavior has driven the headlines recently, not Russia's presence in the region. Most recently Russia has been invested more in Syria and in the Ukraine in aiding its allies in those regions. Second, it was obvious that the Russian military wanted their presence to be known around the carrier group for the bomber's low altitude and close proximity to the Ronald Reagan, but used aircraft that would most likely not be used to attack an aircraft carrier or other naval surface vessel.

Dan Bennington

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3295654/US-Navy-scramble-fighter-jets-intercept-Russian-warplanes-fly-perilously-close-USS-Ronald-Reagan-Korean-coast.html

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/10/29/russian-warplanes-buzz-uss-ronald-reagan/