Russia and the United Kingdom recently experienced another tense moment over the Black Sea, highlighting the fragile atmosphere surrounding military operations near Europe’s borders. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, Russian fighter jets closely approached a British Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft that was flying in international airspace during a routine intelligence mission.
The aircraft involved was an RC-135W Rivet Joint, an unarmed intelligence-gathering plane used to monitor electronic signals and regional military activity. British officials stated that Russian Sukhoi Su-27 and Sukhoi Su-35 jets repeatedly flew at extremely close distances, creating a situation the UK described as dangerous and unnecessary.
Reports indicate that one Russian jet passed within only a few meters of the RAF aircraft several times. Another maneuver reportedly came so close that it temporarily affected onboard systems, including the aircraft’s autopilot functions. While no collision occurred and all aircraft returned safely, the incident raised fresh concerns about military risks in crowded international airspace.
