"Mapped: Just how many incursions into Nato airspace..." Topic

… has Russian military made?.

"RAF Typhoons were scrambled to intercept two Russian long-range bombers off northern Scotland on Wednesday, in the latest in a series of provocative operations by the country's air force.

As tensions between Nato and Russia have worsened over the Ukraine crisis, Moscow has significantly increased the number of military flights probing Nato airspace – and submarine activity probing its waters.

The number of interceptions over the Baltic States trebled last year and Nato members including Britain have stepped up air policing support in the area.

Russia's TU-95 Bear bombers – strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons – make probing flights towards UK airspace about once a month…"
Full article here
link

Amicalement
Armand

Note – the Russians do not ever enter Nato airspace, they stick juuuuust outside.

Yes, that's mainly true, though they did penetrate Estonian sovereign airspace last year.

You dont need to enter EU airspace, just get close enough to launch first-strike nuke cruise missiles.

It isnt a game of how close they can get to the border, it is a game of whether they can launch nukes before adequate air defenses can reach them.

You dont need to enter EU airspace, just get close enough to launch first-strike nuke cruise missiles.

It isnt a game of how close they can get to the border, it is a game of whether they can launch nukes before adequate air defenses can reach their bombers.

Same goes for the subs, which have entered soveriegn territories.

But why the big deal?
Its been going on for ages and we do exactly the same to them – In fact we don't always stick to juuust 'outside' their airspace.
I'm not an apologist for the Russians but one wonders why all the public sabre rattling by the West at the moment. Arms sales down guys?

They have apparently violated Swedish airspace on a number of occasions.

Sorry Gwydion, but it's the Russkies who are rattling sabres, and openly threatening to nuke Europe and the USA, repeatedly, not the West.

We are just reacting to aggressive actions by Putin throwing tantrums, since he and his country have been sanctioned for invading and annexing Crimea, and for attacking Eastern Ukraine.

Seems to me your statements belie your denial.

I thought these air and sea incursions and near incursions were a way to test what response and time of said response.

They have been running these (perfectly legal) routes over the sea near Britain for decades (with a brief hiatus during the honeymoon when the 'oligarchs' were taking all the cash out of Russia) and we've only started moaning about it again since we helped the Ukrainians overthrow their President.

They have been running these (perfectly legal) routes over the sea near Britain for decades

They have, but flights have notably increased over the last year. Also they run through civilian airspace with no filed flight plans and transponders off, causing disruption and danger to civilian traffic.