Scramble ... Combat jets from the United States and the UK have intercepted advancing Russian bombers once again in what appears to be a revival of the Cold War. Most concerningly, US surveillance aircraft have been subject to aggressive radar targeting and "near-miss" passes by Russian combat jets. Source: AP
NATO is going through one of the most important changes in its history depending less on the U.S. military for intelligence and other capabilities at a time when it faces its most important test since the end of the Cold War in the crisis in Ukraine.
The Cold War brinkmanship between Russia, NATO and the United States is back with military aircraft once again playing their deadly game of "chicken" in the skies.
The latest incident at the weekend — involving a US "electronic intelligence" surveillance jet flying in what the US insists was international airspace over the Baltic Sea — is just one of an apparently escalating series of probe, counter-probe and mid-sky standoff.
Such aerial bravado has been rare since the fall of the Soviet Union.
Until now.
And it all appears to be a direct result of the cooling of relations between the West and Russia over the invasion of Crimea and the shooting-down of MH17.
Testy times ... F-22 Raptors from Alaska have intercepted a Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers flying along the coast of the north-western United States. Picture: US Air Force Source: Supplied
At the weekend a RC135 "Rivet Joint" surveillance aircraft — electronically listening-in on Russian military communications — was reportedly targeted by Russian land-based radar. At least one fighter jet was sent to intercept.
US officials say the surveillance aircraft's crew became so concerned at the nature of the radar tracking that they decided to evacuate the area immediately — and in doing so breached the airspace of nearby Sweden.
"We acknowledge a US aircraft veered into Swedish airspace," the US State Department said.
The US has since apologised to Sweden for the unapproved act, but warned its aircraft may again be forced to do so if the hostile stance by Russian forces is repeated.
It's just one of the increasingly intense interceptions raising eyebrows in defence circles.
Last month four Russian long-range Tu95 "Bear" bombers — capable of carrying nuclear weapons — were spotted off Alaskan airspace.
A flight of the ultra-advanced F-22A "Raptor" stealth fighters were put on alert, and then launched. The aircraft played their high-tension game of cat-and-mouse as far south as Northern California before the Russians turned away.
Baltic stand-off ... A "Typhoon" interceptor of the Royal Air Force flies beneath a Russian Su27 "Flanker" combat jet over the Baltic Sea in June. Picture: Royal Air Force Source: Supplied
In June, Royal Air Force "Typhoon" fighter jets were scrambled to intercept four flights of "zombies" — unidentified aircraft — probing the airspace of the Baltic States. The aircraft proved to be advanced Tu22M "Backfire" bombers, Su27 "Flanker" interceptors, A50 "Mainstay" radar aircraft and a transport aircraft.
In April, two Russian Su27 "Flanker" interceptors flew beneath a USAF reconnaissance plane flying between Russia and Japan. They then "popped up" ahead of the jet, crossing its nose within 30m. The US aircraft was forced to evade.
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