Dramatic moment Russian SU-35 fighter jet intercepts two US B-52 nuclear bombers over Baltic Sea
Dramatic moment when Russian SU-35 fighter jet intercepts two US B-52 nuclear bombers over the Baltic Sea, days after downing US Reaper drone
A Russian fighter jet has climbed over the Baltic Sea to intercept a pair of US nuclear bombers just days after a US drone was downed.
The Russian defense ministry said a single Su-35 intercepted B-52 strategic bombers flying toward the Russian border, but returned to base after they left. Dramatic footage seemed to confirm the incident.
The development followed the March 14 crash of a US military surveillance drone into the Black Sea after it was intercepted by Russian jets, in the first known direct military encounter between Russia and the US since Russia invaded Ukraine.
“On March 20, radar facilities of the Air Defense Forces of the Western Military District on duty over the Baltic Sea detected two air targets flying towards the state border of the Russian Federation,” the ministry said in the Telegram messaging app.
It said the targets were U.S. Air Force B52H strategic bombers.
A Russian fighter jet has climbed over the Baltic Sea to intercept a pair of US nuclear bombers just days after a US drone was shot down
Dramatic images purportedly captured from the Su-35 seemed to confirm this on Tuesday. The close-up video showed one of the two American planes hovering above the clouds.
Earlier, the two American planes were escorted by Polish fighter jets.
Russia said a Su-35 fighter jet took off to prevent a border violation, adding: “After the foreign military plane left the state border of the Russian Federation, the Russian fighter jet returned to its base airfield.”
The ministry said the Su-35’s flight was in strict compliance with international airspace usage rules. Violating the state border of the Russian Federation was not allowed.
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