The crew of the
Russian fighter identified the targets as a US Air Force strategic
reconnaissance aircraft and a US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane.
MOSCOW, August 7.
/TASS/. A Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jet was scrambled to intercept a US Air Force
RC-135 reconnaissance plane and a US Navy P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft over
the Black Sea, Russia’s National Defense Control Center reported on Friday.
On August 7, the
Russian airspace control systems detected two air targets over the neutral
waters of the Black Sea approaching Russia’s state border. A Su-27 fighter from
the Southern Military District’s air defense quick reaction alert forces was
scrambled to intercept the targets, the Center said.
"The crew of the
Russian fighter consistently approached the air targets at a safe distance and
identified them as a US Air Force strategic reconnaissance aircraft and a US
Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane," it said.
No violations of the
Russian state border by the US spy planes were allowed, the National Defense
Control Center stressed.
"After the US
reconnaissance planes moved away from Russia’s state border, the Russian
fighter safely returned to its home airfield," the Center said.
The entire flight of
the Russian Su-27 fighter proceeded in strict compliance with the international
rules of using the airspace, it stressed.
This is the eighth
such incident over the past 16 days. The previous incidents took place on July
23, 24, 27, 30 and 31 and August 4 and 5. In particular, a Russian Su-27
fighter plane was scrambled on August 5 to intercept a US Air Force RC-135
reconnaissance plane and a US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol plane over the
Black Sea.
Source: ITAR-TASS 07-08-2020
