Russian jets have been involved in several flybys with U.S. and NATO aircraft over the Mediterranean and Baltic seas in recent days.<\/p>\n
The series of interceptions end a pause of at least six months in Russian and U.S. aircraft buzzing each other in Europe and the Mediterranean.<\/p>\n
A Russian Su-35 fighter intercepted the U.S. Navys P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft in an unsafe and unprofessional manner within 25 feet Sunday, the U.S. Navy said in a statement. It said a similar interaction occurred Wednesday over the same waters where an Su-35 flew an inverted maneuver within 25 feet of a P-8A.<\/p>\n
Russias military defended the intercept as compliant with international rules for the use of airspace over international waters.<\/p>\n
A fighter from the air defense forces on duty at [Russias] Khmeimim air base [in Syria] was raised to identify the target, the Defense Ministry was quoted by the state-run TASS news agency as saying.<\/p>\n
The ministry said the Russian fighter identified the U.S. Navy aircraft by its tail number and took it for escort. The P-8A then changed course away from Khmeimim.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, NATOs Allied Air Command said Monday that its aircraft intercepted two Russian fighter jets Friday overflying a U.S. Navy destroyer deployed in the Baltic Sea near Lithuania.<\/p>\n
Russian and NATO aircraft have conducted thousands of intercepts over international waters in the past four years, the top U.S. commander in Europe said in December.<\/p>\n
Russia hadnt buzzed U.S. aircraft and ships in Europe and the Mediterranean in the three months leading up to December, the commander, Gen. Tod Wolters, said at the time.<\/p>\n
NATO members and Russia have reported numerous airspace violations by military aircraft in eastern Europe since 2014, when Moscows annexation of Crimea from Ukraine froze relations between the sides.<\/p>\n
The United Statesreported several Russian incursions last year, including in airspace near Alaska and Syria.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Visit link:<\/p>\n
Russian Jets Buzz US, NATO Aircraft Over Baltic and Mediterranean - The Moscow Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Russian jets have been involved in several flybys with U.S. and NATO aircraft over the Mediterranean and Baltic seas in recent days Continue reading