saturn_656 saturn_656:
ziggy ziggy:
Correct me if I'm wrong but arent the Russian bears very very old and supceptiple to detection and early attack from the hornets?
And if so, launching a nuke from it would be it's main purpose if it was in attack mode?
I was in the field in the Cold lake weapons range the day this happened,that would explain all the sonic boom's!

The current model of Bear the Russians use is 80's vintage (much like our Hornets), and given the size difference a Hornet should "see" a Bear long before a Bear will see it.
But these days the Bear is more a platform for launching cruise missiles than dropping bombs. The Bear could launch its payload long before they are intercepted by CF-18's.
I watched a program on discovery a few weeks ago and they were saying they were upgrading some old girls to put back in service.
Quite the machine.
The hornets are also amazing to watch doing maneuvers,I didnt get to see many because they like to fly low level over top of you so you hear them after they go by and scare the shite outta ya.

Flying one would be the ultimate rush.
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