A Japanese F-15 fired a flare in its intercept of a Russian spy plane that Japan claims violated its airspace three times in a sortie off the north coast. The appearance of the IL-38, Cold War era long range patrol aircraft. was part of an escalation of such confrontations on Russia's frontier in recent weeks. For at least the fourth time in two weeks, NORAD fighters scrambled to confront Russian aircraft off Alaska on Sunday.
SOP in the military since the age of man. Test the enemy’s ability to spot you and what action do they take. The U.S. does this often as do many other nations.
No pics of F4, F16, F15 and so on doing the same type of mission all around Europe along russian frontiers, everyday these 40 last years ?
No USAF RC135 flying in the area when the KAL 007 Boeing was shooted down ?
That is NO news except the fake that the “bad” ones are doing this, and we are the “good” ones but we are doing this more than everyone !
Greetings from France.
There’s a business story in replacing the P-3.
Lockheed won the job with a low-cost derivative of the P-3 but project cost increased substantially including due to design problems, so USN cancelled.
In rebidding, Boeing won the job with the P-8 version of the B737.
The Il-38 is a militarized version of the Il-18, which was broadly similar to the Lockheed Electra, but the Il-18 flew slightly before the Electra, had a longer production run, and a more successful commercial career.
I’m pretty sure those doors are for weapons and/or sonobouys, since everything I can find mentions the Il-38 fitting all of its’ sensors into either a radome and FLIR turret under the nose, the MAD boom on the tail, or box-like fairing fitted over the forward fuselage on some examples.
The engine installation is same as Electra except it appears that Lockheed wisely put intakes above propellors. (Lower-powered version of Herc engines, mounted upside down.)
Sure look like bomb bay doors, dropping depth charges is normal for ASW airplanes, sometimes torpedoes.
I read that P-3’s bomb bay doors are forward of wing.
Nose looks extended for radar.
FLIR did not exist back then?
SLAR is also newer.
Was a refuelling point for RCAF North Star airplanes enroute to/from the Korean War.
I worked with a guy who was FE on them in that operation.
(North Star is a DC-4 with R-R engines.)
No, from France, the country that refused to go to war in Irak where everybody knew that Mass Destruction Arms were just non existent ! Just think about it !
This back-and-forth of military maneuvering, dating back decades, is a way for global powers to project strength and keep rivals on their toes.
In other words, it’s a game of flexing muscles without actually fighting. Both Russia and the U.S. do it—flying planes near each other’s borders, sailing ships through disputed waters—just to show they’re still in the game. It’s about seeing how the other side reacts, gathering intelligence, and reminding everyone of their military power without crossing the line into war. It’s an old tactic that goes back to the Cold War, and both sides know how to play it. Neither wants a full-blown conflict, but they still push boundaries to keep their rivals on edge.
Huh? Iraq did have WMD. WMD were used. WMD were found. They were not nuclear weapons but were banned chemical weapons. Use was on their own people but were a threat for use on others. Recall UN inspectors were not allowed access because they were hiding illegal WMDs.