Two Russian military jets intercepted a British surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea last month, in what the UK's Ministry of Defence described as a dangerous incident that raised the risk of potential escalation between NATO and Russia. The Royal Air Force (RAF) Rivet Joint aircraft was unarmed and conducting routine surveillance in international airspace when it was repeatedly intercepted by Russian Su-35 and Su-27 jets.
Key Takeaways
Two Russian military jets intercepted an unarmed British surveillance plane over the Black Sea last month, triggering emergency systems on board. This incident has raised concerns about potential escalation between NATO and Russia. o- A second Russian Su-27 conducted six passes within 20 feet of the British plane's nose
- Russian Su-35 jet flew close enough to trigger emergency systems on RAF aircraft
- UK Defense Secretary John Healey condemned the actions as dangerous and unacceptable
- Incident occurred days after Healey announced tracking three Russian submarines near critical undersea infrastructure
According to multiple reports, one of the Russian jets flew within six meters of the British plane's nose, triggering emergency systems on the RAF aircraft and disabling its autopilot system. The incident is considered the most serious involving a UK spy plane since 2022 when another Russian jet fired a missile near a British aircraft over the same region.
The encounter occurred days after Defense Secretary John Healey revealed a Russian undersea operation to Britain's north on April 9, according to UPI. The RAF Rivet Joint aircraft is typically used for electronic surveillance and intelligence gathering to secure NATO's eastern flank. The incident has led to formal complaints from defense and foreign ministry officials to the Russian embassy.
The UK Defense Secretary John Healey condemned the actions as dangerous and unacceptable, stating that these incidents create a serious risk of accidents and potential escalation. A 12-second video clip of the interception, seemingly shot from the British aircraft, was published to the Ministry of Defence's X account, showing the Russian warplane flying close to and around the British aircraft.
The intercepts come amid heightened military activity in Eastern Europe and the High North, with recent incidents including drone violations in Lithuanian airspace and increased submarine activity near critical underwater infrastructure in the North Atlantic. The UK has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine following Moscow's invasion in February 2022, and this latest incident further strains relations between the two countries.
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