Pretty interesting footage from inside a Russian Naval Aviation Tu-142 intercepted yesterday.
The Russian MoD has just released an interesting video that provides additional details about the long-range mission flown in international airspace by a Tu-142MK ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) and maritime patrol aircraft and a Tu-142MR Bear-J VLF band radio communications relay platform escorted by at least one MiG-31 Foxhound (armed with R-33 missiles) that caused the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the RAF to scramble their interceptors on Mar. 7, 2020.
Filmed from inside one of the Tu-142s, the video shows the RAF Typhoons, the RNoAF F-16s from Bodø as well as the Norwegian F-35A launched from Orland Air Station for their first intercept of Russian aircraft. The clip, that shows also one of the Tu-142s as it is refueled by an Il-78 Midas tanker, is also interesting because lets the viewer see the Bear’s coaxial contra-rotating propellers at work.
As already reported, the Tu-142MK is designed to perform ASW: its goal is to search and destroy submarines in distant patrol areas. The aircraft can carry out long-range maritime reconnaissance, aiming, and search-and-rescue operations too. Based on the Tu-95RT, a maritime reconnaissance variant of the baseline strategic bomber produced for naval operations, it has a maximum speed of 855 km/h, cruising speed of 720 km/h and a range of 12,550 km.
The Tu-142MR “Bear J” is a VLF band radio communications relay platform whose mission is similar in concept to the one of US E-6A TACAMO: it provides a communications relay capability to submerged SSBNs, SSGNs and SSNs. The Bear J is based on the Bear F airframe but has a ventral fairing containing the VLF antenna cable reel and unique nose radome and antenna on the vertical tail.
Must have been an amazing encounter. Good thing the Mig-31 pilots didnt do something stupid like flying too close infront of the flight path. The Russian pilots were probably thinking that they wish they had something comparable to the F-35.
Tell me, what’s that MiG-31 that flies into view gonna do? That old antique-design, outmoded and out-gunned, is nothing but a big fat target for not only F-35 (especially), but for Typhoon and F-16 too.
Russian fighters are so behind those of the West it’s laughable! As with all their aircraft (where’s their stealth PAK DA? Lots of talk, that’s all. Typical Russian bombast which as always is backed by … nothing).
Reminds me of the Iranians and their bs Qaher-313. Do these guys share fun-notes? Or do they have a deal with some model airplane/RC toy company? That’s got to be it!
Does anybody know the purpose of the “chicken wire” over the clear panels?
It was a well-done, professional intercept. You might want to try it sometime, Russia, instead of breaking out your stunt-flying.
I love that we get to see different perspectives of the same intercept.