2022 Military escalation Russia - Ukraine - USA - NATO - Europe

[Homo Aeroportus]

Tension in Eastern Europe but still several flights in Ukrainian airspace.

Among the most tracked flights by FR24 :

An RC-135 Rivet Joint

A Lasai Aviation ARTEMIS

and a low cost, very low load factor, Global Hawk

Isn't it amazing that the Russians place their borders so close to American assets ?



H.A.

[Homo Aeroportus]

On the show today :

A USAF C-40 BRU-KBP (top brass?)

A Joint STARS, Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, in transit from Ramstein earlier this morning. Came out of Warner Robins a couple of days ago.

and same now on station

A USN Orion at work

an RAF cousin giving a helping hand

Crowded place out there. Ya'll be prudent hey?

H.A.

[Homo Aeroportus]

Another day in the office.

Early start for a tanker from Mildenhall (100 ARW?).

To take care of a Rivet Joint that had taken off from Chania where the F-34 gas is probably very expensive.

Another USAF RC-135 having an eye (an ear) on the Kaliningrad enclave.

A US Navy P-8A Poseidon from Sigonella Sicily joins the band.

And when all the other crews are back at the squadron bar, this Global Hawk remains on station

H.A.

[sn26567]

Nice update, Homo Aeroportus. Would you also have the movements of Russian planes along the Ukrainian border?

[Homo Aeroportus]

Nice update, Homo Aeroportus. Would you also have the movements of Russian planes along the Ukrainian border?

There are indeed many Russian airplanes flying within Russia. But, as it seems only normal that they fly within their own borders, it is probably not worth reporting.
Of course, if Russian military planes were to fly within 600km from the capital of the USA or along its borders, this would be for sure reason for opening a new thread.



H.A.

[Homo Aeroportus]

Love is in the air.

When thirsty Joint STARS meets Texaco

But sorry honey, gotta go to work now.

H.A.

[sn26567]

Nice update, Homo Aeroportus. Would you also have the movements of Russian planes along the Ukrainian border?

There are indeed many Russian airplanes flying within Russia. But, as it seems only normal that they fly within their own borders, it is probably not worth reporting.

I was not specially thinking of "domestic" Russian flights, but flights over Belarus, Moldova or the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Lugansk.

[Bracebrace]

There are indeed many Russian airplanes flying within Russia. But, as it seems only normal that they fly within their own borders, it is probably not worth reporting.
Of course, if Russian military planes were to fly within 600km from the capital of the USA or along its borders, this would be for sure reason for opening a new thread.

The root cause of the conflict is related to NATO vs Russia, not USA vs Russia. NATO members and Russians are both working "within their borders". I'm not that familiar with the way things are handled on a diplomatic level, but it appears there are strict rulings on "violations" (minor, major), how many are accepted and how they are calculated until it is considered one is "crossing borders" too much.

One interesting Russian flight (the concept of gathering military information through commercial flights is not new to them):

https://yle.fi/news/3-12275191

[FLYAIR10]

It seems the tension and troop build-up around Ukraine is still mounting. What would be the immediate impact on civil aviation if Vlad eventually invades the whole of Ukraine on a misty morning in february/march ?
Will all civil traffic in,or coming through , neighboring countries PL,HU,RO,MD,SK,BL be grounded immediately for safety reasons by local authorities?

What about overflights by western and Asian civil airliners over Russia ? would these be prohibited overnight by Russian/EU traffic control and will all airlines be forced to re-implement the more southern and polar routes of the cold war days?
If extra sanctions would be imposed on the invading countries,could that lead to counter-sanctions prohibiting air traffic over Russian territory?

[FLYAIR10]

USA having an eye on the UR borders, also today.JAKE 11 patrolling (RC-135W Rivet Joint)

[sn26567]

[telspace2005]

If tensions keep building, I would prohibit all airlines of nato's countries to use Russian airspace for transit.
Only Chinese and other aisian airlines would be abble to fly as usual.

[Homo Aeroportus]

Nice update, Homo Aeroportus. Would you also have the movements of Russian planes along the Ukrainian border?

Got one !

A Russian Air Force Tu-134AK from Minsk to probably UMGG/GME Gomel in Belarus.
Flew the same yesterday, with delay vectors probably due to Wx.

Today seems to have been below minima for them :
UMGG 041000Z 25003MPS 8000 OVC005 M07/M09 Q1016 NOSIG RMK QBB160
UMGG 040930Z 26003MPS 8000 OVC006 M09/M10 Q1016 NOSIG RMK QBB180

QBB : Ceiling 160 metres.

The AK is a VIP version of the Tu-134. This example is 42 years old.
Probably a VFR flight, visiting Friends and Relatives in the region close to the Ukrainian border.

H.A.

[sn26567]

The AK is a VIP version of the Tu-134. This example is 42 years old.
Probably a VFR flight, visiting Friends and Relatives in the region close to the Ukrainian border.

OMG! Is this the kind of aircraft they'll use to invade Ukraine? My grandmother would be able to shoot them down!

[Homo Aeroportus]

The AK is a VIP version of the Tu-134. This example is 42 years old.
Probably a VFR flight, visiting Friends and Relatives in the region close to the Ukrainian border.

OMG! Is this the kind of aircraft they'll use to invade Ukraine? My grandmother would be able to shoot them down!

I'm sure that she, for one, knows that all this is political gesticulations.

But agreed that, without real intention from one side to invade the other, we are still at the mercy of a trigger-happy cowboy to start the big clash.


What's in a name/call sign?

H.A.

[Homo Aeroportus]

The USAF sending reinforcement :

... or taking an opportunity for training.

62-4127 is one of the two TC-135W that are used for crew training for Rivet Joint walks along Russian borders.
Normally based at Offutt AFB Nebraska, this bird flew straight from Andrews AFB Maryland last night and is currently at FL390 over the Alps and heading SW.

H.A.

[Homo Aeroportus]

It seems like Olive is going to join Homer in Chania.

Hmmm, I hope Popeye and Marge are not aware of this.


H.A.

[sn26567]

Russian Aerospace Forces fighter crews and Belarusian Air Force practice air combat at low altitudes



© Russian Ministry of Defence

As part of the Union Courage 2022 exercise, the crews of the Su-35 and Su-30SM fighters of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation and the Air Force of the Republic of Belarus completed the tasks of conducting close manoeuvrable air combat pair by pair.

During the flights, the pilots practised defensive and offensive manoeuvres in limited airspace, complex and aerobatic manoeuvres to occupy the most advantageous position in the air for an attack.

Air combat was carried out at low altitudes (from 200 to 1,000 meters) using the super-manoeuvrable capabilities of aircraft.

Source: RT

[Homo Aeroportus]

A USAF Rivet Joint 61-2667 squawked 7700 while returning from mission in the Baltic.

According to FR24, MLAT, they went down swiftly and headed back to Mildenhall.

H.A.

[Homo Aeroportus]

I have seen on several occasions today that a Texaco flies over Poland or Romania, in a racetrack pattern at standard FL240/250 but no other aircraft is visible near the tanker, on FR24 or adsbexchange.

What stealth aircraft could be involved?

H.A.