Navy Intercepts Russian Bombers

Navy warplanes from a U.S. aircraft carrier intercepted a pair of Russian Tu-95 bombers as they overflew an American fleet in the western Pacific over the weekend, reports said. Four F/A-18 warplanes from the carrier USS Nimitz intercepted the Russian planes about 50 miles south of the Nimitz. U.S. warships had been tracking the bombers from about 500 miles away, reports said.USS Nimitz (CVN-68)One of the bombers buzzed the carrier, flying as low as 2,000 feet overhead. Another bomber circled about 58 miles away. Russia has become much more aggressive in recent months, launching bomber sorties in international airspace but managing to challenge U.S. and NATO nations' defense systems.