A Russian Su-30 fighter jet took off to escort a British reconnaissance aircraft in the Black Sea area. This was reported on Thursday, November 11, in the Russian Defense Ministry.
"In the period from 12:00 to 15:00, an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft of the British Air Force tried to approach the state border of the Russian Federation in the area of the southwestern part of the Crimean Peninsula. In order to control his actions, the Su-30 fighter of the Russian Aerospace Forces was lifted from the duty forces," the ministry said in a statement.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation added that at a distance of about 30 km from the state border of Russia, a Su-30 flew up to the reconnaissance aircraft, after which the British aircraft changed course in the direction from the Russian border.
At the same time, the ministry recorded an increase in the military activity of the United States and its NATO allies in the Black Sea region. First of all, as the Ministry clarified, the intensity of the actions of the naval forces, air and sea reconnaissance, as well as strategic aviation has increased.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation drew attention to the fact that over the past day, four NATO reconnaissance aircraft were detected and accompanied by radar means of the anti-aircraft missile forces of the Russian Aerospace Forces. At the same time, the flights of U-2S, RC-135 scouts and two P-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft were carried out over the Black Sea.
"Holding this unscheduled exercise near our borders is absolutely unprovoked by Russia aggressive actions of the United States, creating a threat to regional security and strategic stability," the Russian defense Ministry concluded.
Earlier, on October 20, two Russian Su-30 fighter jets escorted four American aircraft over the Black Sea, including two US B-1B strategic bombers. According to the National Defense Control Center, Russian radars detected targets approaching the borders of Russia over the Black Sea the day before. After the reversal of foreign military aircraft, the Russian fighters returned safely to their home airfield.
Prior to that, on October 17, a MiG-31 fighter escorted a B-1B bomber over the waters of the Sea of JapanThe US Air Force, not allowing the violation of the border. The flight of the Russian aircraft was carried out in strict accordance with the international rules for the use of airspace, the NCSO stressed.
