Russian fighter jets approached, forcing the US reconnaissance aircraft to change course.
Russian Su-27 fighter jets scrambled, forcing a US Navy reconnaissance aircraft to cancel its planned mission over the Black Sea.
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Su-27 fighter jet. Photo: Sputnik |
On January 29, the Russian military deployed a Su-27 fighter jet to intercept and force a US Navy EP-3 Aries reconnaissance aircraft to change its course in international airspace over the Black Sea, according to reports.RT.
The Russian Ministry of Defense asserted that Russian fighter jets complied with international rules and there was no emergency situation. The Su-27s scrambled after Moscow detected a flying object heading towards the border.
Meanwhile, the US Navy stated that the Su-27 dangerously approached the EP-3 aircraft, at times coming within 1.5 meters, and flew directly in front of the American reconnaissance plane. The Russian fighter jet shadowed the American EP-3 Aries reconnaissance aircraft for 2 hours and 40 minutes over the Black Sea. The US considered this an "unsafe" action.
Russian and American aircraft have had numerous encounters in international airspace over the Black Sea. The most recent encounter occurred in November 2017, when a Russian Su-30 fighter jet flew across the path of a P-8A reconnaissance aircraft. The Pentagon accused the Russian aircraft of engaging its afterburner while flying ahead, causing the P-8A to shake violently.
