MOSCOW – A video which was released by the US Air Forces in Europe showsAmerican F-15 fighter jets intercepting Su-30 Russian multirole fightersnear the Baltics, prompting a reply from the Russian Defense Ministry,Sputnik has reported.
The US Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) released a video of F-15 fighter jetslink>interceptingSu-30 Russian multirole fighters near the Baltics.
The intercepts reportedly took place in November and December 2017 and wereconducted by F-15s deployed to Siauliai International Airport in Lithuania.
The video consists of two clips, with one showing the F-15C Eagles aircraftscrambled to intercept the alleged Russian Navy Su-30 Flankerslink>”ininternational airspace near the Baltics” on November 23.
According to the USAFE, the Russian warplanes did not broadcast theappropriate codes required by air traffic control and had no flight planson file. The second clip showed the F-15s intercepting two Su-30son December 13.
The USAFE said that “pilots from the 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadronexecuted the intercept professionally and operated in internationalairspace in accordance with all relevant international flight regulationsand safety standards.” The squadron belongs to the 48th Fighter Wingstationed at the Lakenheath airbase in the UK.
493rd Fighter Squadron commander Lieutenant Colonel Cody Blake, for hispart, called intercepts “a normal part” of NATO’s Baltic air policingmission. The US is due to hand over the lead in the mission to Denmarknext week.
‘Safe Distance’
The Russian Defense Ministry’s Information and Communications Departmentsaid in a statement on Saturday that crews of the Russian fighters Su-30SMconducted scheduled training flights over the neutral waters of the BalticSea on November 23 and December 13.
“The route of Russian fighter jets was agreed upon with the air logisticscontrol units and has been carried out in strict compliance with theinternational rules of using the air space without violating the nationalborders of other countries,” the statement said.
It added that “during the flights, NATO F-15 jets approached the Russianfighter jets at a safe distance, after which they changed the course andflew away.”