I wouldn't be surprised if the US were flying in one of their smaller jets, just daring the Russians to shoot them down...
hardly the case, and i think i explained this to you before. the fact we can see a F-35 every now and then. its simple, if THEY want to be seen, its a simple flip of a switch. only 3 aircraft i know of that CANNOT use public modes..... B-1, F-22 and B-2. they are EXEMPT from ever using Mode C/S in public broadcasting.
what i meant was the fighters and bombers aren't visible to us most of the time or at all. I just worded it wrong.