A Russian Mig-31 intercepted US P-8 patrol aircraft near Russia’s Far East

Author: Business Insider

April 29, 2016 at 14:04

The Russian Soviet-design supersonic interceptor flew within 15 meters of the US Navy reconnaissance plane but unlikesome of the previous “close encounters”, the interception was conducted in a “safe and professional” manner according to Cmdr. Dave Benham, a spokesman for the Pacific Command, who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon.

On Apr. 21, a Russian Air Force MiG-31 jet intercepted a US P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft flying in international airspace near Kamchatka Pensinsula, in Russia’s Far East, whe-re a firing range used also to test intercontinental ballistic missiles launched f-rom Borei-class strategic nuclear submarines is located. The Russian Soviet-design supersonic interceptor flew within 15 meters of the US Navy reconnaissance plane but unlikesome of the previous “close encounters”, the interception was conducted in a “safe and professional” manner according to Cmdr. Dave Benham, a spokesman for the Pacific Command, who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon. Indeed, the incident occurred one week after a US Air Force RC-135 electronic intelligence gathering aircraft flying a routine mission (in international airspace) over the Baltic Sea was intercepted by a Russian Su-27 that barrel rolled over the American spyplane. ...