Russian bombers attempt to probe Canadian airspace
Master Corporal Andrew Collins/DND
File photo of a CF-18 Jet. Earlier this week Russian bombers were intercepted by CF-18s when they flew too close to Canadian airspace.
Amy Minsky, Postmedia News · Friday, Jul. 30, 2010
Canadian fighter jets were launched this week when Russian bombers came close to probing Canadian airspace.
Canadian Forces are always prepared to “protect Canadian sovereignty” any time an aircraft approaches Canadian airspace, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Friday.
Mr. MacKay said the Russian planes, which he identified as Tu-95s — or “Bear bombers” do fly near Canadian space on occasion. But it is the “unidentified appearance” of the planes that caused concern, prompting the dispatch of Canadian CF-18 fighter jets from CFB Bagotville in Quebec.
Also, Russian planes typically fly from the west coast, near Alaska, he said. The planes that tried to probe Canadian airspace this week were flying in from the east coast.
“This was a message clearly to them that we’ll have CF-18 fighter planes there to greet them every time,” the minister said.
Mr. MacKay told CTV News that Ottawa has asked countries for notice when they plan to have planes or ships near Canadian territory.
“We ask for ample notice to avoid any confusion or any possibility that there will be a misunderstanding,” he said.
Canadian Forces are always prepared to “protect Canadian sovereignty” any time an aircraft approaches Canadian airspace, Defence Minister Peter MacKay said Friday.
Mr. MacKay said the Russian planes, which he identified as Tu-95s — or “Bear bombers” do fly near Canadian space on occasion. But it is the “unidentified appearance” of the planes that caused concern, prompting the dispatch of Canadian CF-18 fighter jets from CFB Bagotville in Quebec.
Also, Russian planes typically fly from the west coast, near Alaska, he said. The planes that tried to probe Canadian airspace this week were flying in from the east coast.
“This was a message clearly to them that we’ll have CF-18 fighter planes there to greet them every time,” the minister said.
Mr. MacKay told CTV News that Ottawa has asked countries for notice when they plan to have planes or ships near Canadian territory.
“We ask for ample notice to avoid any confusion or any possibility that there will be a misunderstanding,” he said.
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