Washington and Moscow last month signed the agreement on de-confliction.
Advertisement
WASHINGTON/MOSCOW A US fighter jet and a Russian fighter jet flew within 5 miles (8 km) of each other in the skies over Syria on Tuesday, in a planned test of new safety protocols aimed at avoiding an accidental clash between the former Cold War foes.
Though the USA and Russia are not cooperating militarily in Syria or elsewhere, the test was apparently carried out to ensure safety in the skies over Syria – where US and Russian jets, among others, are flying and carrying out separate missions.
The agreement set guidelines for safe distances between aircraft, radio frequencies for USA and Russian pilots to use in flight and a communication line on the ground between the two air operations.
Initially, Russian Federation indicated it would target Islamic State positions, but the vast majority of its strikes have occurred outside of areas where the militants are known to be, USA officials have said.
Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, said on Friday the United States decision would make cooperation between both countries’ militaries more important. “This morning, at 11 a.m. Moscow time, the Russian and US air forces held a joint practice of actions by crews and ground services in the event of a risky proximity between aircraft”, Kartapolov said.
While a senior US military source also described it as an “exercise”, Davis described it as merely a “test”.
Kartapolov said the militaries “established a relationship…in the Russian and English languages”, Interfax news agency reported.
Andrei Kartapolov from the Russian army’s General Staff said in a statement it entailed Russian and coalition jets practising close encounters in a special zone.
Advertisement
Moscow has been bombing targets in Syria since September 30, when it launched an offensive in support of forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad against Islamic State jihadists and other “terrorist” groups.
