A photo from open sources
Deferred Visit
April 10, 2014 “Donald” entered the Black Sea Cook, “destroyer of the US Navy. The warship was supposed to hold joint exercises with NATO partner (Romania) and provide moral support for the Kiev authorities, who are suffering a loss Crimea. Entrance to the Odessa port was provided. Almost a thousand inhabitants of Odessa came to Primorsky Boulevard to express their “fe!” overseas guests. Only Odessa wasted in vain in the rain. The destroyer never showed up in the raid.
US accuses Russia of provocation
On April 14, the Pentagon issued an angry statement accusing Russia in “provocative actions.” According to the text of the document, April 12 Russian SU-24 bomber for 1.5 hours 12 times (!) flying over an american ship imitating a combat attack that It is strictly forbidden by the signed international agreements. These actions, according to the US military, are “unprofessional” and “not gentlemanly.”
Destroyer and bomber
A photo from open sources
Launched in 1997, Donald Cook is equipped with an air defense system Aegis, ZAU Falanks and missiles Standard-2. Bomber SU-24 was adopted by the USSR Air Force back in 1975, the last the aircraft was released in 1993. Belorussian Air Force took off in 2012 bomber with weapons. In Russia, the SU-24 is still flying, but fate they have already been resolved: by 2015, 103 bombers will be surrendered to scrap metal. Why did the obsolete bomber annoy American destroyer?
Surprise
The Americans spotted the “drying” is still afar and anxiety is not experienced. On the contrary, officers even rejoiced at the opportunity conduct exercises in conditions as close to combat as possible. Announced a combat alert. Military personnel took places according to combat crew in readiness to repel an enemy attack. Fact that the adversary was not entirely conditional; he gave the teachings a flavor of piquancy. And here a surprise awaited American sailors.
Multifunctional air defense system “Aegis” at the approach Russian aircraft was “blind.” On monitors operators they saw only a white spot. On persistent requirements to issue the coordinates of the target, they only mumbled slurredly. Similarly left system and tracking system ZAU “Phalanx”. But the sailors could visually observe how a bomber, released back in the late 70s, once imitates combat approaches at once. In combat, the destroyer is already several times would make a bul-bul. Ship security systems have come to life only when the bomber, “destroying” the target, turned around and went into side of the airfield.
So the bomber crew demonstrated to the Americans operation of the newly created electronic warfare complex “Khibiny”, which soon the command of the Russian Air Force intends install on every Russian combat aircraft.
Effects
A photo from open sources
Instead of Odessa, the destroyer went to a safe Romanian port. By Pentagon spokesman Colonel Stephen Warren “brazen trick Russians” had a demoralizing effect on the crew the ship. Many needed the help of a psychologist.
27 crew members filed reports on dismissal as further service on the destroyer “represents threat to their lives. “Even the news that the size of the insurance payment increased from $ 1 million to 3 million did not affect their decision. Joint exercises with the ships of the Romanian Navy took place, but passed without the expected enthusiasm. A visit to Ukrainian ports was decided put off until better times. April 25, “Donald Cook” went to Mediterranean Sea.
Interestingly, judging by the comments on numerous sites, Russian technical experts see nothing in the incident special. Vulnerability of American electronic security systems for They are no longer news. As for the morale of American military, it turned out to be very different from the standard, created by Hollywood.
NATO Russia Aircraft
