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Russian pilots crossed the nose of the B-52 several times and caused turbulence, limiting the plane’s maneuverability, according to a statement from the US Air Forces in Europe and African Air Forces Public Affairs.
The incident occurred when the planes were moving over international waters in the Black Sea last Friday.
On the same day, NATO conducted a large-scale joint exercise in a total of 30 countries. One of the objectives of the exercise was to coordinate the efforts between the prestigious aircraft of the United States and the allied air forces, and to show the outside world that the alliance is united and ready for battle.
– Increases the potential for collisions.
According to the Americans, the approaching flight of the Russian fighter jets was unprofessional and associated with great risk.
– Actions like this increase the potential for collisions. It is unnecessary and contrary to international aviation regulations, says General Jeff Harrigian, commander of the United States Air Force in Europe and Africa, writes to CNN.
The US military is reacting in particular to the fact that Russian fighter jets chose to act aggressively in international airspace.
– We hope that they operate within the international standards that are established to guarantee safety and prevent accidents. They threatened the flight safety of the aircraft involved, warns the general.
– A serious violation of airspace.
Here, the Russian fighter plane escapes a few tens of meters from an American B-52 plane. (CNN screenshot).
The same day another serious incident took place, also this time involving a B-52 aircraft.
According to NATO’s Allied Air Command, a Russian fighter plane must have violated Danish airspace when it followed and monitored the movements of the B-52 plane.
The episode took place when the Russian fighter plane tried to intercept a US B-52 plane near Bornholm, and thus flew into Danish airspace, NATO states.
– The Russian Su-27 aircraft from Kaliningrad followed the B-52 aircraft into Danish airspace over the island and thus committed a serious airspace violation in the NATO country. says in the message reproduced by CNN.
A Danish fighter plane must have gone over the wings to meet the Russian plane, but the Russian left the area before the Danish plane arrived.
“The episode demonstrates Russia’s lack of respect for international standards and allied airspace,” said Gen. Jeff Harrigian, commander of NATO’s Allied Air Command.
– A new level of provocative behavior
The last two episodes are considered unusual by NATO and will be the first of their kind in several years.
– Indicates a new level of provocative behavior on the part of Russiawrites NATO.
Danske Ekstra Bladet has been in contact with Major Karsten Marrup, who is the head of air operations for the Danish Defense Academy. He believes that NATO’s clear response is a clear signal to Russia that this is unacceptable.
– They tend to fly, let’s say, differently. They fly close to airplanes and not necessarily as well as it should. That flying into sovereign airspace is a provocation to a new level, I agree with that, says Marrup.
VIDEO: The United States is deploying B-52 aircraft in Europe
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