On both occasions, Russian officials discounted the USA characterization that the actions by the Russian military aircraft were unsafe and unprofessional.
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“All flights of Russian planes are conducted in accordance with worldwide regulations on the use of airspace”, a statement by the Russian defence ministry said. “The U.S. Air Force has two solutions: either not to fly near our borders or to turn their transponder on for identification”. More specifically, the Su-27 closed within 25 feet of the fuselage of the RC-135 and conducted a barrel roll over the aircraft.
“On April 29, 2016, a U.S. Air Force RC-135 aircraft flying a routine route in worldwide airspace over the Baltic Sea was intercepted by a Russian SU-27 in an unsafe and unprofessional manner”, Laura Seal wrote in an email. It can fly at Mach 2.5 at a maximum altitude of more than 62,000 feet, twice as high as a commercial airliner.
Another official said the us will “voice its concerns to the Russians” over the “unsafe aerial maneuver”. The Pentagon said the interception was made in an “unsafe and unprofessional manner”.
This is the latest in a series of close encounters with Russian aircraft operating in that area.
The jet, which travels at almost three times the speed of sound, flew within 50 feet of the P-8, a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, claim defence officials.
The Kremlin denies any intentions to attack the Baltic countries, but it has often said that they have become an aggressive “Russophobic kernel” pushing North Atlantic Treaty Organisation towards a consistently anti-Russian course.
Dave Benham, a spokesman for the Pacific Command, told the Washington Free Beacon: “Intercepts between the United States and other militaries occur often and the vast majority are professional. It is risky.” He said forces on the destroyer could have shot down the jets under USA military rules of engagement.
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation plans its biggest build-up in Eastern Europe since the Cold War to counter what the alliance considers to be a more aggressive Russian Federation. Video on April 11 captured two Russian jets zooming past the USS Donald Cook, a Navy destroyer in the Baltic, flying only 100 feet off the ground.
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The MiG-31 jet is one of the fastest in the world, . But we do expect it to be discouraged from higher up from now on.
