PACIFIC (Feb. 2, 2008) One of two Russian Tu-95 Bear long rang bomber aircraft which neared the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) on Feb. 9, 2008 south of Japan. As standard procedure the carrier launched a fighter intercept of F/A-18 Hornet strike fighters assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVN ) 11 as escort. Nimitz was transiting through the Western Pacific on a regularly scheduled deployment when the incident occurred.