Two Su-27 fighter jets from the Russian Armed Forces escorted an RC-135 electronic reconnaissance aircraft and two Typhoon fighter jets from the UK Royal Air Force to the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday.
“Russian airspace control over the Black Sea waters detected three air targets approaching Russia’s state border. A pair of Su-27 fighter jets from the Air Defense Forces were called in to identify the targets and avoid crossing the state border,” the ministry said, citing state news agency TASS. .
The Su-27 fighters identified the targets as an RC-135 reconnaissance and electronic warfare aircraft and two British Air Force (RAF) Typhoon fighters.
The RC-135’s primary mission is signals intelligence, where it collects and processes various types of electronic signals for strategic and tactical purposes. The aircraft is equipped with a wide range of sophisticated intelligence-gathering equipment that allows it to monitor, detect and intercept enemy communications and radar emissions.
“As Russian warplanes approached, foreign military aircraft moved away from Russia’s state borders. Russian planes returned to their base airfields and were not allowed to cross the state border.
The Russian ministry stressed that the interception was carried out in accordance with international rules on the use of airspace in neutral waters, without crossing air routes or dangerously approaching foreign government aircraft.
It comes days after the RAF deployed its fighter jets to intercept Russian military aircraft flying close to Nato airspace. Last week, the British Air Force said that for three consecutive weeks, RAF fighter jets had been grounded to intercept Russian aircraft flying close to NATO airspace.
The Black Sea and the Baltic Sea have seen numerous intercepts by Russian and NATO aircraft in recent months. Tensions between Moscow and the West over airspace and air conduct escalated last March when a US military surveillance drone (MQ-9 Reaper) crashed into the Black Sea after encountering Russian Su-27 fighter jets in space. Russia claims annexation from Ukraine.
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