Russian Fighters Escorted 5 US, French Military Aircraft Over Black Sea: MoD
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After receiving a radar detection, Russian fighter aircraft scrambled to prevent any crossing of its countries airspace amid rising tensions between Russia and NATO.
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2 Sukhoi Su-27SM fighter aircraft (Source: Global Look Press)
Russian fighters escorted Thursday US and French warplanes over the Black Sea as they attempted to reach Russian Borders, the Russian Defense Ministry's National Defense Control Center (NDCC) said.
Russian radars detected Friday air targets approaching the Russian state border over the neutral waters of the Black Sea, the Russian military reported.
NDCC said: "To identify air targets and prevent them from crossing Russia's state border, three Su-27 fighters from the air defense forces of the Southern Military District were scrambled."
"The crews of Russian fighters identified the air targets as two tactical fighters Mirage-2000 and Rafale of the French Air and Space Force, reconnaissance aircraft CL-600 Artemis of the US Army, strategic reconnaissance aircraft RC-135 of the US Air Force, and also a tanker aircraft KS-135 of the French Air and Space Force, and escorted them over the Black Sea," NDCC clarified.
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RC-135 Strategic reconnaissance aircraft of the US Air Force
Russian fighters returned to their home airfield when foreign military aircraft turned away from the Russian national border. No crossing of the border was permitted.
Russian fighters flew over neutral waters in strict line with international norms for the use of airspace over neutral waters, avoiding air routes and risky rapprochement with foreign aircraft, according to Sputnik.
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Deputy Russian foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov made the comment when asked if the current situation could turn into something that resembles the Cold War standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union.
US President Joe Biden had warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Washington and its allies would confront any Russian military invasion of Ukraine with harsh economic sanctions.
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