Two Russian Fighter Jets Intercept U.S. Spy Plane Over Sea Of Japan

Russian Su-35S and MiG-31BM fighter jets scrambled to intercept a US spy plane over Sea of Japan on Saturday.

According to Russian Defence Ministry, the spy plane was heading towards the Russian sovereign airspace.

Russian MIG 35BM

Russian Su-35S and MiG-35BM fighter jets of the Eastern Military District were scrambled to intercept a U.S. Air Force spy plane over the Sea of Japan on Saturday.

According to Russian Defense Ministry, radars detected the target in international airspace over the neutral waters of the Sea of Japan.

The spy plane, an RC-135W Rivet Joint strategic reconnaissance aircraft, was heading towards the Russian sovereign airspace.

US Air Force reconnaissance aircraft RC-135

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The Ministry of Defense said in a statement that :

“For identification and interception of the target, Su-35S and MiG-31BM fighters from the Air Defense Forces of the Eastern Military District were scrambled, which, after approaching, identified it as a US Air Force reconnaissance aircraft RC-135”

Su-35S

The Defense Ministry pointed out that the Su-35S and MiG-31BM fighter jets returned to their home airbase after the spy plane made a U-turn and flew away from the Russian sovereign airspace.

The Ministry added that :

“All the flights of the Russian Aerospace Forces’ [combat aircraft] take place in strict accordance with international airspace rules,”

Saturday’s intercept was the second in less than two weeks. A similar occurrence happened on 1 July after a US RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft flew close to the Crimean peninsula.

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