LONDON: Two Russian jets “repeatedly and dangerously” intercepted a British surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea last month, the defence ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
“This incident is another example of dangerous and unacceptable behaviour by Russian pilots, towards an unarmed aircraft operating in international airspace. These actions create a serious risk of accidents and potential escalation,” Defence Minister John Healey said in the communique.
The incident comes as relations between the two countries remain at a historic low over the Ukraine war and longstanding spying allegations. The Russian Su-35 and Su-27 jets intercepted the Royal Air Force (RAF) Rivet Joint aircraft last month with the Su-27 at one point flying as close as six metres to the British plane´s nose, the statement added.
The surveillance aircraft was taking part in a routine flight in international airspace as part of the UK´s work alongside allies to secure Nato´s Eastern Flank.
Officials said the encounter was the most serious involving a UK Rivet Joint since 2022. In that case, a Russian aircraft fired a missile near a British plane over the same region.
In the new incident, “one Russian Su-35 aircraft flew close enough to trigger emergency systems on the Rivet Joint, including disabling the autopilot system,” the ministry said. “In another dangerous intercept, a Russian Su-27 aircraft conducted six passes in front of the British aircraft,” it added. Healey said the incident would not “deter the UK´s commitment to defend Nato, our allies and our interests from Russian aggression”.
