"Bomber diplomacy" and Other Air Operations

Last edited Tue Feb 19, 2019, 06:23 PM - Edit history (1)

(Source- Sin In Kyun Defense Daily 1.28) Gradually increasing Russian bomber force display. Sin In Kyun graphic shows the recent Russian out of area bomber flights in the news lately.

A bear bomber, an old Tu-95, approached Alaska on Sep. 12. Blackjack, Tu-160, bombers approached UK airspace twice during a period from September to October, 2018, in response to large NATO exercises in Europe. A section of Blackjack strategic bombers visited Venezuela on Dec 10. Su 24 Fencers flew near Japan on Jan 16, and the last is the Blackjack pair approaching Canada on the 26th of Jan. The title for Shin's program was Russia attack aircraft diplomacy- Putin pulls together disorderly countries. They would be China, Venezuela, Cuba, North Korea, Syria and Iran, in Shin's view.

In a relatively recent Channel A News Top Ten program, the movement of a squadron of Backfire Bombers to a base in the Vladivostock area was reported. These aircraft were said to be upgraded with the capability to carry new long range air to surface missiles which would increase the threat they pose, especially to naval forces.


(Source- Channel A News Top Ten 1.28)

This Channel A Top Ten News graphic shows the airbases marked in orange which participated in the winter military exercises of the North Korean armed forces. The yellow area is the estimated area for tactical ballistic missile bases. Just south of that region is the Hwangju air base where Mig 23s are deployed. Furthest south and closest to the DMZ is a helicopter base in Heju. Further east and closest to the maritime peace zone negotiated between the DPRK and South Korea on the West Sea coast, are two Mig 19 bases, Gwa Il, and Tetan. The Blue marker designates the Sakganmol missile base in the news not too long ago.

The Mig 23s carried out unusual nighttime operations in December, considered risky and expensive for the North. The Top Ten analysts speculated concerning why the North would operate aircraft at night which is "unprecedented" for them. They also remarked on the precious fuel situation in the north due to sanctions.

The Mig bases are considered a threat to the Northwest islands inside the maritime peace zone. The aircraft are antiquated daylight combat aircraft. The Korean Joint Chiefs said the military operations of the aircraft in the winter exercises did not violate the military agreements between the two Korean states (establishing no fly zones near the MDL/DMZ). The Top Ten program suggested that the movements in the North were perhaps a response to South Korean military exercises, and possibly the South Korean F-35 acquistion program.


(Source- Aircraftspots on twitter 1.28)

https://twitter.com/aircraftspots?lang=en


A B52 flight was reported by aircraft spots on twitter January 28. Shin In Kyun hasn't reported this yet. Aircraft spots reported another movement to Yokota, Japan, on January 26, a C-32 aircraft that Shin reported on January 29's Defense Daily program. Shin also reported a pattern of heavy lift aircraft traffic at Yokota, which he suggested indicated training readiness for civilian evacuations. He said the traffic was associated with preparations for the second summit, "Plan A," which if unsuccessful, ostensibly, could eventuate in implementation of Plan B. One wonders where he gets the Yokota information.

More:

https://civilizationdiscontents.blogspot.com/2019/01/bomber-diplomacy-and-other-air.html