MikeLigalig.com

By Jim Fox
The Ledger

In a scene similar to the movie "Top Gun," Canadian fighter jets intercepted two Russian bombers and prevented them from entering Canada's air space off the coast of Newfoundland.

Two CF-18 jets and crews "scrambled very quickly" to repel the Russian TU-95 long-range bombers, Defense Minister Peter McKay said Friday.

"This was a message, clearly, to them that we will have CF-18 fighter planes there to greet them every time," he added.

The pair of Russian "Bear" aircraft came "closer than we have seen in recent times," McKay noted, adding these occurrences are designed to "give the impression of greater power and greater assertiveness."

One of the recent previous attempts by the Russians occurred in February last year hours before U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Canada. Then, two Russian bombers were intercepted just outside the Canadian Arctic and were turned back.

Critics suggest that publicity of the latest incident is well-timed with the Canadian government's recent announcement to spend $16 billion to buy 65 new F-35 fighter jets.

It's not known whether the Russian bombers, known as the Bear, were carrying nuclear weapons.

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