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http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/19/us/russian-plane-incidents/index.html
The fact the two bears and refuelers were escorted with antiquated cold war museum pieces, i.e. MiG-31's, tells me this was just Ivan being silly. The MiG-31 was designed to launch from it's base and climb to high altitude rapidly to intercept our old super sonic B-1's. It is not that well suited to the fighter escort role. Would have been a duck shoot for the Raptors and the Russians knew it. Whole incident seems to only have entertainment value vs any strategic significance.
The fact the two bears and refuelers were escorted with antiquated cold war museum pieces, i.e. MiG-31's, tells me this was just Ivan being silly. The MiG-31 was designed to launch from it's base and climb to high altitude rapidly to intercept our old super sonic B-1's. It is not that well suited to the fighter escort role. Would have been a duck shoot for the Raptors and the Russians knew it. Whole incident seems to only have entertainment value vs any strategic significance.