US deployed F-15 jets as Russian bombers circled Guam this week

Guam, United States (4E) – Two Russian bombers were reported to have circled Guam this week, according to NBC News.

As a result, U.S. Air Force F-15 jets from Andersen Air Force Base on Guam were deployed to intercept the bombers.

“U.S. long-range radars and satellites tracked the two bombers as they took off from northeastern Russia and headed south on a long-range flight that required multiple refueling. Japan also scrambled fighter jets as the bombers passed near but did not enter Japanese airspace,” the report said.

“The Tu-95s were intercepted and left the area in a northbound direction. No further actions occurred,” she said. Bender said no other details would be released “for operational security reasons.”

The bomber incident was considered highly unusual, a military official was quoted to have stated in another article.

Defense officials said the bombers tracked over Guam were likely equipped with six Kh-55 or Kh-55SM cruise missiles that can hit targets up to 1,800 miles away with either a high-explosive warhead or a 200-kiloton nuclear warhead.

Two U.S. B-2 strategic bombers were deployed to Guam in late January and last fall advanced F-22 fighter bombers were temporarily stationed on the island. Three nuclear-powered attack submarines and the Global Hawk long-range drone also are based in Guam.

About 200 Marines currently are training on the island. Earlier news reports stated that Japanese and Australian military jets joined U.S. jets in the Guam exercises.

---

---