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Russia ‘dangerously’ intercepts British spy plane over Black Sea: Ministry
TL;DR
Russian jets have dangerously intercepted a British RAF surveillance plane over the Black Sea, according to the UK's Ministry of Defence. The incident involved close passes by Russian aircraft, raising concerns about safety and escalation.
Key points
- Russian jets intercepted a British RAF surveillance aircraft
- Incident occurred over international airspace in the Black Sea
- Russian Su-35 and Su-27 aircraft were involved
- British aircraft was unarmed and conducting routine surveillance
- UK officials lodged a formal complaint with Russia
Mentioned in this story
Royal Air ForceMinistry of Defence
Black SeaNATOSu-35Su-27
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.
“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.
Q&A
What happened during the interception of the British spy plane over the Black Sea?
Two Russian jets repeatedly and dangerously intercepted a British Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft, triggering emergency systems on the British plane.
What type of aircraft was involved in the incident over the Black Sea?
The British aircraft involved was a Rivet Joint, which is an unarmed surveillance plane used for routine operations in international airspace.
What actions did the UK take in response to the Russian interception?
UK Defence and foreign ministry officials formally complained to the Russian embassy regarding the dangerous interception of their aircraft.
