Moscow. July 15. INTERFAX-AVN-The Russian military on Thursday raised a MiG-31 fighter jet to escort a US Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft over the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Kamchatka, the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation reported.
"On July 15, 2021, an air target approaching the state border of the Russian Federation was detected by Russian means of airspace control over the Pacific Ocean," the report says.
"To identify an air target and prevent violations of the state border of the Russian Federation, a MiG-31 fighter from the air defense forces of the Eastern Military District on duty was lifted into the air," the Center notes.
"The crew of the Russian fighter identified the air target as a US Navy P-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft and escorted it over the Pacific Ocean along the south-eastern coast of Kamchatka," the department emphasizes.
The report says that the Russian fighter after the turn of the American plane from the state border of Russia safely landed at the home airfield.
"Violations of the state border of the Russian Federation have not been allowed," the National Center for Defense Management of the Russian Federation notes.
"The flight of the Russian aircraft was carried out in strict accordance with the international rules for the use of airspace," they note.
Earlier on Thursday, it was reported that the Russian military lifted two pairs of MiG-31 and Su-35 fighter jets into the air to escort B-52N strategic bombers of the US Air Force Global Strikes Command over the Bering Sea.
Deputy Secretary of the Russian Security Council Mikhail Popov said on Wednesday that Western countries are creating military tension near the Russian borders.
"The West has actually taken a course to implement military-strategic, political and psychological pressure on the Russian Federation. As well as the deliberate escalation of military tension near the borders with Russia, which does not contribute to strategic stability, "Popov said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
On July 13, the Russian military reported on the departure of a Su-30 fighter jet to "intercept" an American EP-3E "Ares" radio-technical intelligence and electronic warfare aircraft.
On July 11, the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation reported that Su-30SM and Su-27 fighters were taking off to escort an EP-3E "Ares" radio intelligence and electronic warfare aircraft and a CL-600 "Challenger" reconnaissance aircraft of the US Air Force over the Black Sea.
On June 23, the Russian Defense Ministry reported that Russian military and border guards opened warning fire on the course of the destroyer Defender, which violated the Russian border in the Black Sea near Cape Fiolent (Crimea).
Defender was legally in international waters near the Crimean Peninsula, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters.
On June 29, the Dutch Defense Ministry accused Russian aircraft of unsafe actions near the Dutch Navy frigate Evertsen on June 24 in the Black Sea. The Dutch side claims that Russian fighters flew for several hours at a dangerously close distance to Evertsen, simulating attacks.
The Russian military denied this. Russian planes were lifted into the air to prevent violation of the state border of the Russian Federation, the Dutch frigate was heading for the Kerch Strait, the Russian Defense Ministry said at the time.
Defender and Evertsen were in the Black Sea to participate in the maneuvers of NATO and their allies Sea Breeze-2021. These exercises were held in the Black Sea region from June 28 to July 10.
The MiG-31 (according to the NATO codification: Foxhound - "Foxhound") is a two-seat supersonic long-range interceptor fighter designed for long-term patrolling and combating high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, strategic bombers and low-flying targets. The aircraft is capable of simultaneously hitting 6 and escorting up to 10 air targets.
Currently, the Russian Armed Forces are receiving upgraded MiG-31BM. As Interfax reported, this fighter in the MiG-31K modification became the first aircraft carrier of a hypersonic weapon-the Dagger missile.