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About LinkBacksToday Feb 10th 2022.
What use are they going to be in the present tension re. Ukraine?
I've seen the U2 going in to land there, but this is scary.
HATE-14.
February 10th, 2022, 12:21 PM
Today Feb 10th 2022.
What use are they going to be in the present tension re. Ukraine?
I've seen the U2 going in to land there, but this is scary.
HATE-14.
It is all about showing the opposition that you mean business. The B-52s are still highly capable as stand-off weapons*. While easily shot down with SAMs etc, they can deliver cruise missiles from a distance.Originally Posted by ox
Quoting from the link below :
"Originally designed as a high-altitude, high-speed penetrating nuclear bomber, the B-52 now provides long-range cruise missile carriage and launch capabilities using the AGM-86B Air-Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM)."
They are very scary indeed, ox. One has to suppose that is why they are flying them at this time.
Reminds me of Dr. Strangelove.
"Cold War Bomber B-52 Gets New Lease on Life Amid U.S. Tensions with China, Russia"
* https://www.newsweek.com/cold-war-bo...russia-1659367
Just posturing then?
War games can be dangerous depending on who has their finger on the nuclear trigger and I don't trust any of them that have.
It's "equally" likely that, given reports say that this is a long-planned deployment, this is simply another regular rotation.
Last October it was Bones flying in. There have also been B-2s based there.
Fairford underwent a costly runway extension/ refurbishment a while back and the USAF effectively moved out for a short period, thus it's possible that this is mostly "just business as usual" after a lull of exotic foreign birds.
The current situation with Russia mobilizing large forces along the Ukraine, there is no question about their intent. In order to demonstrate that this is not acceptable to the West, we simply cannot be silent, and do nothing, as if nothing is happening. That would certainly embolden them to do whatever they wish, short of fooling around with a NATO member.
The only approach for the West is to show unity within NATO in no uncertain terms, provide aide to Ukraine, and vociferously declare the instigator as Putin. The world (at least those not in bed with Russia) needs to know what is going on, so the leaders must speak up about this threat - continuously.
The Russians must also see activities indicating the West is not ignoring the situation dynamically. Words are only worth so much. Flying B-52s and U2s around, and sailing a Nimitz class carrier battle group into the area, among many other things, will get their attention. Deploying troops, and with the U.K, U.S. and others sending lethal aide to the Ukraine are hard, real activities that the Russians cannot ignore. Some experts I have read believe that Putin is very surprised by this push-back, as he was not expecting anything so dramatic. Now it is a matter of how does he save face.
It is hard to trust anyone with a button that can annihilate us all. That is why there are some safe-guards in place in the U. S., at least. This involves more than one person who has to agree to launch an attack. In the U.S., the president cannot simply push "the button", and not just because there really isn't one to push. The military must agree with him in order to launch, "commander-in-chief" and "orders" be damned in this case. For the military to agree, the situation must clearly demand it. Some top U.S. Generals have already said they would not have launched missiles if ordered by Trump unless they were convinced it was necessary. We can only hope the same is true in those other states.
Nice to read this. The RAF is clearly on its toes, as usual!
In this case it looks like they got the runway extension/ refurbishment done just in time. It appears these B-52s are meant as a clear sign to we-all-know-who*.
"USAF sends B-52 bombers to England and F-15 fighter jets to Poland as Ukraine tensions deepen"
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/u...mbers-23049349
I've never seen a B52 but I may have heard one overhead one night when rough camping.
Pretty sure it was on the flight path to Fairford and a massive noise. Probably out to Afghanistan.
Not the sort of plane to attend nearby Brize Norton.
The U2 I saw was pointed out to me by a plane spotter a year ago from the top of the Malverns.
Fairford is still undergoing works, and you won't see the plane spotting boards along the perimeter fence like you used to.
I suspect the B52's landed to refuel before going on a night flight to Poland or Turkey.
Stand by for the potential for WW3. Wars don't start when you think, and maybe it already has.
Check these out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catego...United_Kingdom
It will take me about 40 minutes to get to Drakelow Tunnels.
How is it the UK has so few compared to Sweden.
https://www.thelocal.se/20171101/why...lout-shelters/
Government advice: https://www.ready.gov/sites/default/...ct-sheet_0.pdf
Last edited by ox; February 12th, 2022 at 07:56 AM.
It is not clear anyone would survive WW3, or would want to.
And it seems unlikely this will lead to it. But like you say, "Wars don't start when you think," At least sometimes.
Einstein: I know not with what weapons WW3 will be fought, but WW4 will be fought with sticks and stones.
Ways to start a war include:
Tribal tensions from religious or political divides. (1)
Failure of diplomacy.
Asset grabbing.
Manufactured incident.
Incursion into territory.
A nut in command.
Breakdown of empires.
Fake news.
Losing a soccer match.
All apart from the last one in this case.
(1) Never genetic divides.
In a show of NATO support, two B-52s out of RAF Fairford flew over the Balkans yesterday to demonstrate commitment to allies of four member nations*.
Turnout to see the big birds was apparently significant, and most appreciated the display. They are certainly outstanding examples of NATO capability.
Has anyone seen these taking off and landing at Fairford? There are supposed to be four B-52s stationed there.
"In sign of support, US bombers fly over Dubrovnik, Balkans"
* https://apnews.com/article/russia-uk...9d12986d8ae110
Newsweek released an interesting article on current U.S. nuclear weapons capabilities, prompted from threats by Putin regarding the use of nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine. An interesting aspect of the various U.S. delivery systems is the continued use of the old iconic Cold War bomber, the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress*.
This plane first flew 70 years ago, and there are dozens which are still operational. These upgraded B-52s are expected to be flying for another 30 years or so. The article describes the B-52's current value in Western defense capabilities, particularly regarding "Long Range Stand-off Weapons", which are typically cruise missiles with nuclear capability. Despite their age, the Stratofortress is still capable of providing a major nuclear deterrent unlike any other.
"How Biden's Three Most Powerful Forces Are Playing Nuclear Poker with Putin"
* https://www.newsweek.com/how-bidens-...-putin-1754677
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