The Flying force general charged with protecting the U.S. from an intrusion stated he anticipates extra events of Russian probing of American airspace as a result of the nation’s focus on the coronavirus pandemic.
Gen. Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, who leads both U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, said the Russian military has actually always been interested in determining the U.S. reaction to their justifications.
” We expect to see ongoing activity. That’s why we’re constantly prepared to respond,” Gen. O’Shaughnessy informed reporters on Tuesday at the Pentagon.
On April 8, F-22 fighter jets assigned to NORAD intercepted a set of Russian Ilyushin-38 patrol aircraft when they went into an area known as the Alaskan Air Defense Recognition Zone. They were first spotted flying over the Bering Sea north of the Aleutian Islands. The U.S. fighters accompanied them out of the location.
” We wished to make it extremely clear – which we did by the way we obstructed them – that there are no vulnerabilities as a result of COVID-19,” Gen. O’Shaughnessy said. “We are postured and preserve the ability to react at a minute’s notification.”
In the past week, Russian military aircraft two times obstructed U.S. Navy P-8A Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance flying in global airspace in the Mediterranean location. On April 15, a Russian Su-35 flew inverted within 25 feet of the U.S. aircraft – exposing it to wake turbulence and jet exhaust, Department of Defense officials stated.
” The unneeded actions of the Russian Su-35 pilot were irregular with excellent airmanship and international flight guidelines, seriously jeopardizing the safety and flight of both aircraft,” U.S. Navy authorities said in a statement.
There does not seem to be a spike in Russian activity solely as an outcome of COVID-19, Gen. O’Shaughnessy stated.
” What we do see is, I believe, a constant effort for them,” he said. “It’s an ongoing effort on numerous fronts to possibly evaluate for any vulnerabilities.”
