A-10s make rare highway landing near Russian border

[Heel n Toe]

(CNN) - Four U.S. Air Force A-10 "Warthogs" jets landed Monday on the remote Jägala highway in Estonia near the Russian border, the first such practice road landing in over 30 years.

The maneuver in Estonia, a NATO member that shares a 183-mile long border with Russia and sits about 100 miles from St. Petersburg, comes amid heightened tensions with Russia.

These so-called "austere" highway landings were relatively common during the Cold War as military planners sought contingencies in case air bases were destroyed in a large-scale conflict.

But the Air Force has not seen the need to practice this type of landing in the last three decades.

Retired Air Force Col. John "JV" Venable told CNN that these landings would be critical if Russia were to ever mount an attack on NATO's Baltic members.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are definitely "targets of interest for (Russian President Vladimir Putin) and Russia," he said.

He added that in the event of an attack, one of the first things the Russian military would do would be to strike the region's limited number of airfields, thereby making alternative landing areas critical to defending the alliance's eastern flank.

"This was the first time in a long time that we had the opportunity to conduct a highway landing," said Air Force Master Sgt. Alex Griffin, a U.S. Air Force-Europe public affairs officer. "It was important because it's necessary our aircrew are familiar with this skill."

More, with video: A-10s make rare highway landing near Russian border - CNNPolitics.com

[drcoastline]

Cool. I didn't know they used to practice maneuvers like that. Last weekend in Wildwood Crest New Jersey four A-10's flew down the beach in a single file row. They weren't 100 feet off the deck. Got to the Cape May canal made a hard right and went over the Delaware Bay. Heading to Dover I assume. They were so close you could see the pilot. Awesome sight.

[kach22i]

The build up of forces started a couple of years ago.

Published time: 24 Nov, 2014
There to stay: US troops keep Poland, Baltic deployment for 2015
https://www.rt.com/news/208227-nato-troops-poland-baltic/

A ‘temporary’ deployment of US troops in Poland and the Baltic states has been extended through 2015, a US commander in Europe said. NATO sells its presence as a deterrent to an ‘aggressive Russia’, with Moscow countering that it only escalates tension.

And they want more, more, more.


Ken Schwartz
February 17, 2016
Polish Official Urges NATO to Deploy Troops to Deter Russia
Polish Official Urges NATO to Deploy Troops to Deter Russia

Poland's foreign minister on Wednesday urged NATO to get over its reluctance to deploy troops along its eastern flank, to deter what he says is Russian aggression.

So far just a battle of words, chest beating and posturing.


Published time: 21 Jun, 2016
NATO’s Stoltenberg ‘distorting facts’ over Russia ‘threat’ - Duma defense chief
https://www.rt.com/politics/347630-duma-defense-chief-blasts-fresh/

The comment came in response to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s accusations that Russia is breaching the NATO-Russia Founding Act...................

About a week ago, Komoyedov’s deputy, MP Andrey Krasov (United Russia), called NATO plans to deploy additional forces to Baltic countries and Poland “an unfriendly step,” and warned that Russia would reply with more military exercises using its most advanced weapons.

This statement was also a reaction to Stoltenberg, who had announced shortly beforehand that the bloc had plans to deploy four multi-national battalions in the Baltic countries and Poland.

[motion]

I took a photo of Russia across the river from Estonia when I was there last month. Beautiful area. I didn't see any US troops.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by motion

I didn't see any US troops.

So the camouflage is working hey?

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

Cool. I didn't know they used to practice maneuvers like that. Last weekend in Wildwood Crest New Jersey four A-10's flew down the beach in a single file row. They weren't 100 feet off the deck. Got to the Cape May canal made a hard right and went over the Delaware Bay. Heading to Dover I assume. They were so close you could see the pilot. Awesome sight.

I have video, somewhere, of an A-10 flying below a Kiowa Scout that was looking over a ridge. The hogs like to be in the weeds.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

this is just a friendly hello for Putin bombing U.S.-backed Syrian rebels a week ago. A little anemic but what can you do.

aren't proxy wars fun.

[KNS]

The A-10 has been the busiest, most requested (for support) best friend to troops on the ground aircraft for the last couple of decades and Washington keeps trying to put it to pasture without a viable replacement. Yes, they'll wear out eventually but if we can keep the B-52 flying for 60+ years the A-10 should be able to keep flying until we have a like replacement.