Russia will cross the "red line" if it stations Tu-160s in Cuba

Lunatik

Active member
Russia will cross the "red line" if it stations Tu-160s in Cuba

Uh oh! Things are heating up... :sick:

ARTICLE:
U.S. general warns against Russian bombers in Cuba

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top U.S. Air Force officer warned on Tuesday that Russia would be crossing "a red line" if it were to use Cuba as a refueling base for nuclear-capable bombers. Gen. Norton Schwartz, whose nomination to become the Air Force's top military officer is being considered by the Senate, was asked at his confirmation hearing how he would advise U.S. policymakers if Russia were to proceed with such a plan.
Russia's Izvestia newspaper this week quoted a "highly placed source" as saying Russia could land Tu-160 supersonic bombers nicknamed "White Swans" in Cuba as a response to a planned U.S. missile defense shield in Europe, which Moscow opposes.

"I certainly would offer best military advice that we should engage the Russians not to pursue that approach," Schwartz told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"And if they did, I think we should stand strong and indicate that that is something that crosses a threshold, crosses a red line for the United States of America."

Russian Defense Ministry officials have tried to pour cold water on the report, saying the newspaper story was written under a false name and quoted a source at an organization that did not exist.

The suggestion of Russian nuclear weapons in Cuba is reminiscent of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis that followed the discovery of Soviet missile bases on the Caribbean island. The two-week crisis appeared to draw the Cold War to the verge of World War III, as President John F. Kennedy responded to the threat by authorizing a naval blockade of Cuba.

In the end, the Soviets agreed to dismantle the missile sites in exchange for a U.S. non-invasion pledge and a secret deal to remove American missiles from Turkey.

http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN2229801920080722
 
By the way, this is the aircraft they're referring to; Tupolev Tu-160 "Black Jack".

Tu-160_57.jpg


With old analog cockpit. Current fleets are modernized with digital glass cockpits.
TU-160.4.jpg


Underside.
tu160-pic.jpg


Airshow.
tu-160_01.jpg
 
The cheap Russian version of the B-1B Lancer... not a good thing to keep in Cuba.
Yes, lol, it looks just like the Lancer.

800px-B1s.jpg


I wonder if Russia will ignore the US threat and go ahead with the Cuba thing. Any thoughts?

Can this be part of the "retaliation" package against the American missile defense move in easter europe / western Russia?
 
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I wonder if Russia will ignore the US threat and go ahead with the Cuba thing. Any thoughts?

Can this be part of the "retaliation" package against the American missile defense move in easter europe / western Russia?

The US do push the Russians with the rocket shield and radar bases in eastern Europe and with the further possible NATO expansion to the East - it is plausible in my opinion they look at all alternatives available for protecting themselves, including aircrafts on Cuba and even Venezuela.
 
I'd say let 'em and post two F-15 squadrons in Florida to deal with them. That is track them, lock them on, piss 'em off...
 
I'd say let 'em and post two F-15 squadrons in Florida to deal with them. That is track them, lock them on, piss 'em off...

Thats like a time machine, get a F 18 sqaudron down at Pensecola paint the setting sun on thier tails and call them VFA 111. Then go shake some hands with Russia's finest somewhere over the Carribean.

Don't understimate the Russians however, Al Qadea pulled off a 500K priced attack and look what they accomplished. Analog or not, U.S. fighter pilots betting be ready. Before Mr. Putin left office, he took a tour of a Tu 160 base, and basically promised more funding.
 
Yes, lol, it looks just like the Lancer.

800px-B1s.jpg


I wonder if Russia will ignore the US threat and go ahead with the Cuba thing. Any thoughts?

Can this be part of the "retaliation" package against the American missile defense move in easter europe / western Russia?


I don't think so.

Russia doesn't have a viable Air Force to match the American one.
Moreover, she can't afford another Cold War...
So, it is all about SYMBOLS - symbolic flights, symbolic threats...
What real threat represents a pair or two of "Swans"?

If there is no wholesale nuclear war - none.
If it is - it doesn't matter, IMHO
 
And what if Russia stations a couple squadrons of Mig-29s as well for protecting the Tu-160s? I think that'd really heat things up.

mig_29_a.jpg


By the way, I think Cuba already has some Mig-29s.
 
And what if Russia stations a couple squadrons of Mig-29s as well for protecting the Tu-160s? I think that'd really heat things up.

mig_29_a.jpg


By the way, I think Cuba already has some Mig-29s.


They are short ranged, a Tu 160 is a intercontienital bomber, so that means, what, Havanna to New York and back by lunch? Let's see, thats at least a dozen U.S. states, and not one of them will allow escorting short range fighters land and refuel to continue hostilitis with the U.S.

America knows this, thats why Cuba's old 29s don't birng much fear, by the time you load up the external fuel tanks, that leaves room for what? Two R 73Ms? (copied sidewinders from way back)? With a hundered and fiftey 30mm cannon rounds, which and burst from those will tear a fighter jet in half. If you can get close enough, hitting another fighter plane moving at 500knots in a dog fight is a delicate but almost impossible process, the opposing plane must kinda try to get shot down to get splashed by gunfire.

As for air to ground weapons for a escorting Mig 29, I will not even mention that.
 
Viper as in F-16, or Viper as in F-22? I've only very rarely heard "Viper" used to describe the '22s. Anyway, we've got fighter squadrons at Eglin AFB, probably at McDill AFB, certainly at NAS Pensacola, probably at NAS Jacksonville (depending on the training schedule), and that doesn't include any Marine Corps assets or carrier air wings. Florida's fairly well covered :p
 
How about up toward northwest into the gulf, namely Texas. There's Houston there which is about the 4th largest US city. NASA HQ. Major port, a lot of oil rafineries.

I don't know if it's correct but I always feel south is the US' soft stomach and the mere mentioning of Cuba makes our historical enemies 'cross red lines'.

Also, air refueling could solve the range problem.

610x.jpg
 
Viper as in F-16, or Viper as in F-22? I've only very rarely heard "Viper" used to describe the '22s. Anyway, we've got fighter squadrons at Eglin AFB, probably at McDill AFB, certainly at NAS Pensacola, probably at NAS Jacksonville (depending on the training schedule), and that doesn't include any Marine Corps assets or carrier air wings. Florida's fairly well covered :p

Vipers are always F-16s. Raptors are F-22s. Never heard an F-22 referred to as a Viper.
 
Just think how much it will cost Russia to maintain her Tu-160/Mig-29 presence in Cuba?
And what will be a net gain, knowing that Moscow is much more vulnerable?
 
I think they're testing the waters. Seeing what they can get away with. I doubt that if we stand up to them that they'll keep trying.
 
Stand up to them? Ha, we can't even do that without belly aching from the left after being attacked on 11 Sept 2001. Why would we stand up to them for this? Certain members of government will offer them free college if they promise not to beat us up.
 
I don't think so.

Russia doesn't have a viable Air Force to match the American one.
Moreover, she can't afford another Cold War...
So, it is all about SYMBOLS - symbolic flights, symbolic threats...
What real threat represents a pair or two of "Swans"?

If there is no wholesale nuclear war - none.
If it is - it doesn't matter, IMHO

I think the Russia is gambling that the Americans cant afford another cold war either, in terms of cost what will it cost to park them in Cuba and keep them looking like they can fly because that is all they have to do to tie up US hardware and funds protecting the east coast.
 
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