Fourth Time This Year A Strategic Nuclear Bomber Has Been Intercepted

NATO fighter jets again intercepted a Russian 'Bear' TU-95 strategic nuclear bomber flying deep in European airspace ... without permission. And the Russian government is being very tight-lipped about the circumstances of the flight.

File Photo

It is the fourth time this year that the Russians have been caught flying where they don't belong and are not welcome. Gizmodo reports that in the most recent incident a few days ago, two Dutch F-16s intercepted the four-engine turboprop bomber and shadowed it until it left European airspace.

Russia re-deployed the TU-95s in Cuba and Venezuela two years ago, and have reportedly been conducting cold-war-style patrols worldwide ever since. They enter another nation's sovereign airspace without permission, and seem to have little concern about consequences. NATO so far has limited its engagement with the bombers to showing them the shortest exit route.

The 'Bear' bomber first flew in 1952, according to Wikipedia, and Russia says it will be in service until 2040.

FMI: www.nato.int