Canadian jets repel Russian airspace probe

Two Canadian fighter jets raced to repel Russian bombers that made several attempts to probe Canadian airspace on Wednesday. The CF-18s took off from CFB Bagotville to intercept two TU-95 long-range bombers about 463 km east of Goose Bay, N.L. Attempts by Russia to test Canadian airspace have been going on sine 2007, and have increased in frequency since then. Defence Minister Peter MacKay said the Russians didn’t give Canada any advance notice of the probe, but stressed that although the planes did not enter Canada’s sovereign airspace, the bombers did come inside the 300 nautical mile zone that Canada claims. The TU-95 bomber is capable of carrying nuclear weapons and may have been loaded with warheads on this trip. MacKay said the government wasn’t aware what, if any, weapons were on board. Canada is in a race with Russia and other Arctic nations to lay claim to the frozen territory that may hold untold treasures.

QMI