North Korean MiGs Intercept US RC-135 | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

 Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-06.23.25

Airborne-NextGen-06.24.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.25.25

Airborne-AffordableFlyers-06.26.25

AirborneUnlimited-06.27.25

Tue, Mar 04, 2003

North Korean MiGs Intercept US RC-135

Uneven Matchup Over Sea of Japan

On Monday, the Pentagon released information that four North Korean MiGs, two -29s ("Fulcrums") and two others, believed to be -23s ("Floggers"), intercepted an (unarmed) RC-135 US reconnaissance plane.

The Pentagon said, "The fighters were armed and at least one engaged its fire-support radar and 'locked on' to the American jet."

At least one of the MiGs came within 50 feet of the old "Rivet Joint," as they hung with it for about 20 minutes, according to one report. The official Pentagon version said 400 feet. [Note: a later release said, "The closing distance of the U.S. and North Korean aircraft was cut from 400 feet to 50 feet; and the Korean fighters' radar lock is not definite." --ed.]

Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said he had no indication that U.S. fighter jets were called to protect the Air Force reconnaissance plane before it returned from its "routine mission" to its home base at Kadena Air Base in Japan.

The incident occurred about a quarter 'til 9 on Saturday evening, Eastern time.

FMI: www.defenselink.mil; www.af.mil/news/factsheets/RC_135V_W_Rivet_Joint.html

Advertisement

More News

NTSB Final Report: Rutan Long-EZ

He Attempted To Restart The Engine Three Times. On The Third Restart Attempt, He Noticed That Flames Were Coming Out From The Right Wing Near The Fuel Cap Analysis: The pilot repor>[...]

ANN FAQ: Turn On Post Notifications

Make Sure You NEVER Miss A New Story From Aero-News Network Do you ever feel like you never see posts from a certain person or page on Facebook or Instagram? Here’s how you c>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: ICAS Perspectives - Advice for New Air Show Performers

From 2009 (YouTube Edition): Leading Air Show Performers Give Their Best Advice for Newcomers On December 6th through December 9th, the Paris Las Vegas Hotel hosted over 1,500 air >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (06.28.25)

Aero Linx: NASA ASRS ASRS captures confidential reports, analyzes the resulting aviation safety data, and disseminates vital information to the aviation community. The ASRS is an i>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (06.28.25)

“For our inaugural Pylon Racing Seminar in Roswell, we were thrilled to certify 60 pilots across our six closed-course pylon race classes. Not only did this year’s PRS >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne 06.30.25: US v ADS-B Misuse, Nat’l STOL Fire, Volocopter Resumes

Airborne 06.27.25: ANN's HUGE OSH Coverage!, NCAR Racing Seminars, JFK Lawsuit

Airborne Affordable Flyers 06.26.25: PA18 Upgrades, ‘Delta Force’, Rhinebeck

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC