UK says Russian jets dangerously intercepted RAF surveillance plane over Black Sea
Quick Look
- The UK's Ministry of Defence reported that two Russian jets "repeatedly and dangerously" intercepted an unarmed British RAF surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea in April.
- The Russian jets flew dangerously close, triggering emergency systems and posing a risk of accidents and escalation.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Two Russian jets "repeatedly and dangerously" intercepted a British Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea in April. The UK's Ministry of Defence stated the unarmed Rivet Joint aircraft was conducting routine surveillance in international airspace. Defence Minister John Healey condemned the actions as dangerous and unacceptable, creating a serious risk of accidents and potential escalation.
Two Russian jets have “repeatedly and dangerously” intercepted a British Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft in April over the Black Sea, according to the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence.
The Rivet Joint aircraft was unarmed and carrying out routine surveillance in international airspace over the Black Sea, securing NATO’s eastern flank, the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. There was no immediate reaction from Russia.
“This incident is another example of dangerous and unacceptable behaviour by Russian pilots, towards an unarmed aircraft operating in international airspace,” Defence Minister John Healey said in the statement. “These actions create a serious risk of accidents and potential escalation,” he added.
It was repeatedly intercepted by a Russian Su-35 aircraft, which flew close enough to trigger emergency systems on the British plane, it said. A Russian Su-27 conducted six passes, flying six metres (less than 20 feet) from the Rivet Joint’s nose.
Defence and foreign ministry officials this week formally complained to the Russian embassy about the air incident, Wednesday’s statement added.
It said the incident was the most dangerous Russian action against a UK surveillance plane since 2022, when a nearby Russian plane released a missile over the Black Sea, in what Moscow later called a technical malfunction.
The intercepts came days after Healey announced that the Royal Navy had tracked and “seen off” three Russian submarines on an alleged monthlong “covert operation” in Atlantic waters “north of the UK” near vital undersea cables and pipelines.
Healey made details of the monitoring operation public on April 9.
“Let me be very clear: This incident will not deter the UK’s commitment to defend NATO, our allies and our interests from Russian aggression,” he warned on Wednesday.
The UK monitoring mission involved about 500 personnel and saw UK aircraft fly more than 450 hours while a navy frigate covered several thousand nautical miles.
A defence review last year concluded that Russia poses an “immediate and pressing” threat to the nation.
Open Questions
- What was Russia's response to the formal complaint filed by UK officials?
- What specific emergency systems were triggered on the Rivet Joint aircraft?
- What is the UK's planned course of action following this incident?
- Were there any other similar incidents in the period leading up to this report?
