COLD WAR Mischief in the Air

Western fighters were often sent to intercept Tu-95s as they performed their missions along the periphery
of NATO airspace, often in very close formation.
The fighters would stay in an escort position ready to down their prey if Rules of Engagement were satisfied.
The tail gunner position typically kept the twin cannon pointed upwards as to not antagonize the intercepting fighters.
Similarly, NATO ROE for interceptions restricted aircrews from locking up the Tu-95 with their fire control radar
lest it be misinterpreted as a hostile act.
Concerning the performance of the aircraft, it has been reported by
many fighter pilots that the Tu-95 was able to out-accelerate them for
a short distance, especially with the SEPECAT Jaguar.
There are also tales of the Soviet pilots suddenly swerving to push
the escorts off course or cause them to rapidly decelerate.
This went both ways however, in the 1980s a
Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16 collided with a Tu-95 whilst escorting it out of Norwegian airspace.
Apparently, the Norwegian pilot had been edging closer and closer to the Tupolev before being caught in
the propwash and having a wingtip torn off in the resulting collision. Both planes landed safely.
During the height of Cold War, the long range of the Tu-95 was demonstrated weekly as a pair of Tu-95
would fly from the Kola peninsula to Cuba down the east coast of the United States while being
escorted continuously along the way.
MUSIC: Richard Wagner - Ride of the Valkyries.

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