Iran route is the longest route if they didnot adopt it in 2003. there is no chance of adopting it again if they are going to Indian ocean. Russia is cooperating with NATO for its own interest to clean the mess untill it becomes more manageable. and at that time they will refuse to cooperate so NATO can neither move forward nor backward but stuck for ever. There is no need to ask Afghanistan as it has no ability to intercept Russian bombers when escorted by fighters under CSTO.
Of course they have to ask permission for use of Afghan airspace. The Russians had to ask permission and file flight plans for the 2003 mission to fly over Afghanistan and Pakistan. All were agreed beforehand. If you hadn’t noticed it is a violation of territorial airspace if not done.
If you hadn’t noticed these are peacetime operations requiring full cooperation from all parties regarding their national airspace. Afghanistan is not a member of CSTO and that organisation has no juridisction over Afghan airspace. The Coalition and ISAF currently controls the airspace on behalf of the Afghan government. Do you not think that an F-16, etc wouldn’t be tasked to investigate aircraft not under control of the military ATC? The Coalition provides the same service to the Iraqi government.
http://ramcc.dtic.mil/afghan_AIP_12May05.pdf
The Russian Air Force commander, Vladimir Mikhailov, gave an interview after the 2003 Indian Ocean exercises. He said there were no any problems with permissions. “we asked and got it” he said. They flew using “standard international routes”. They took the route of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
TJ
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