Su-27 Fighter Flew Within 100 Feet An RC-135 Over International Airspace

In an incident reminiscent of the Cold War, a Russian Su-27 fighter reportedly flew within 100 feet of an Air Force RC-135 surveillance aircraft over international waters north of Japan in April, but the incident was not made public for more than a month.

According to a report appearing in the Washington Free Beacon, the incident occurred some 60 miles from Russia's far east coast. The fighter is said to have at one point during the encounter rolled on its side to show the U.S. intelligence-gathering aircraft that it was armed.

The incident was recorded on video by the RC-135 aircrew and confirmed by Pentagon spokesman Col, Steven Warren. He said the encounter took place in international airspace over the Sea of Okhotsk on April 23. Another defense official called the encounter a "reckless intercept." The U.S. has communicated its concerns "directly to the Russian military," Warren said.

The Obama administration has recently approved Russia's use of upgraded sensors on aircraft that overfly the U.S. and Europe under the 1992 "Open Skies" treaty. The incident pre-dated the approval but was not made public until after the agreement was announced.

The RC-135 flight is part of increased intelligence-gathering efforts in the region, which have also included the deployment of two Global Hawk UAVs in the area.

FMI: www.defense.gov