Russian aircrafts were caught flying over the island of Guam and the coast of California by the radar of a U.S. F-15 fighter, according to an announcement by the head of the U.S. Air Forces in the Pacific and as reported by Reuters.
Speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, the head of U.S. Air Forces in the Pacific showed a slide of an American F-15 fighter jet intercepting a Russian “bear” aircraft over Guam. The term “Russian bear” was widely used by NATO during the Cold War to describe the Russian Tupolov bomber.
Reuters characterizes the increased activity as a “show of strength” while the situation in eastern Ukraine is spinning out of control
According to the U.S. agency, General Herbert Carlisle has stated that there has been a significant increase in Russian air activity in the Asia Pacific region, including flights over the coast of California and the US island of Guam.
The U.S. General also stressed that the number of long range Russian patrols around the islands of Japan has also increased drastically in recent times.
“Certainly what’s going on in Ukraine and Crimea is a challenge for us and it’s a challenge for us in Asia Pacific as well as Europe”, said the American general commenting Moscow’s activity in the Asia – Pacific region.
“That’s to demonstrate their capability to do it, it’s to gather intel,” stressed the American general and added that Washington is alert currently conducting military exercises in South Korea and Japan.

Mike Green, senior vice president for Asia at CSIS, said the frequency of incidents was up and described these practices as being “evocative of the Cold War”.
To justify the Russian aircrafts’ “presence” in the region, the government of Vladimir Putin was quick to argue that the specific activity was necessary to guarantee the safety of the country.