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> I'm not sure we scramble fighter jets every time they do. I thought they did, since scrambling the jets demonstrates to the Russians that the US's air defens
by 394549 8y ago
> I'm not sure we scramble fighter jets every time they do.
I thought they did, since scrambling the jets demonstrates to the Russians that the US's air defense network is tight. It also helps keep the pilots from getting lax. The Russians do the same thing with the US files near their airspace.
- josefresco 8y agoThey expect to be intercepted. It's the time of response that is being tested.
- Turing_Machine 8y agoIt's pretty much a given that they'll be intercepted before they reach legal Alaskan airspace, and a dead certainty that they would never manage to reach the contiguous United States. However, I've been told by people in a position to know that the actual game is to attempt to intercept the Russian planes before they get within cruise missile range of Anchorage. The USAF doesn't always manage to do that.
- josefresco 8y agoNeat! (and scary) thanks for sharing.