Dramatic moment Russian warplanes intercept U.S. military aircraft over the Baltic Sea – weeks after an American spy plane was ‘buzzed’ by SU-35s over the Mediterranean
- American military aircraft were spotted above the Baltic Sea
- Russian SU-27 fighter jets took off to ensure they did not cross state borders
- Russian fighter jets can be seen flying close to either side of US military aircraft
This is the dramatic moment American military aircraft are intercepted by Russian fighter jets over the Baltic Sea.
Russian jets can be seen approaching what appears to be an American B-52 bomber and a Lockheed P3 Orion aircraft in the skies above neutral waters of the Baltic Sea on Monday.
An official statement from the Russian Ministry of Defence said: ‘The air defence duty personnel of the Western Military District revealed the actions of the US Air Force B-52H strategic bombers and foreign reconnaissance aircraft over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea and they were escorted by Russian fighters.’
The incident comes after Russian fighter jets were accused of buzzing a US spy plane in an ‘unsafe manner’ over the Mediterranean Sea last month.
This is the dramatic moment American military aircraft are intercepted by Russian fighter jets over the Baltic Sea
Russian jets can be seen approaching what appears to be an American B-52 bombers and a Lockheed P3 Orion aircraft in the skies above neutral waters of the Baltic Sea on Monday
Moscow said state borders had not been violated and that the Russian fighter jets carried out their actions in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace
In the most recent incident, Moscow said state borders had not been violated and that the Russian fighter jets carried out their actions in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.
In the video, Russian fighter jets can be seen flying close to either side of the bombers during the ‘interception’.
US and NATO aircraft were taking part in the annual BALTOPS exercise which has involved 28 ships and submarines, 28 aircraft and 3,000 personnel this year.
In the video, Russian fighter jets can be seen flying close to either side of the bombers during the ‘interception’
The 49th iteration of the Baltic Operations exercise was focused this year on naval warfare at sea, partly by design and partly in response to COVID-19 pandemic.
The week-long drills conclude today.
The incident comes after U.S. fighter jets intercepted and escorted four Russian nuclear-capable bombers during a routine flight over neutral waters near Alaska last week.
Russia said the 11-hour flight, carried out by its Tupolev Tu-95MS bombers, complied with international law and that U.S. F-22 Raptor tactical fighters had accompanied its planes during some stages of their flight.
The interception of the bombers, which can carry nuclear missiles, came weeks after two Russian fighter jets were accused of flying in ‘an unsafe and unprofessional manner’ while intercepting a US spy plane over the Mediterranean Sea.
The Russian jets ‘flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner’ while intercepting a U.S. spy plane on Tuesday, May 26, over the Mediterranean Sea, the U.S. Navy said in a statement.
The fighters ‘took close station of the spy plane’ over a period of 65 minutes, the statement read.
It added: ‘While the Russian aircraft was operating in international airspace, this interaction was irresponsible.
Two Russian fighter jets were accused of flying in ‘an unsafe and unprofessional manner’ while intercepting a US spy plane over the Mediterranean Sea last month(pictured)
‘We expect them to operate within international standards set to ensure safety’.
The proximity of the two planes made it impossible for the US aircraft to ‘safely manoeuvre’.
‘The unnecessary actions of the Russian Su-35 pilots were inconsistent with good airmanship and international flight rules, and jeopardized the safety of flight of both aircraft,’ the statement said.
The encounter marked the third time in two months that Russian pilots buzzed U.S. aircraft.