Miloch
May 27th 20, 05:01 AM
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/33688/armed-russian-fighters-fly-dangerously-close-to-u-s-navy-patrol-plane-in-the-Mediterranean
The U.S. Navy has released a video and images showing two fully-armed Russian
Su-35 Flanker-E fighter jets flying dangerously close to one of its P-8A
Poseidon maritime patrol planes over international waters in the Eastern
Mediterranean Sea today. The incident comes after U.S. Africa Command issued a
press release, along with images, some of which a P-8A appeared to have
captured, showing Russian combat jets making their way to Libya to reinforce
mercenaries and other forces fighting there on behalf of rogue general Khalifa
Haftar, something The War Zone had already been investigating in depth.
The Navy says that two Su-35s intercepted and flew on either side of the P-8A
over a period of 65 minutes. The U.S. Sixth Fleet, which oversees American naval
operations around Europe, including in the Mediterranean, said that there had
also been two other unsafe intercepts in the general area in April.
The full Navy press release is as follows:
"For the third time in two months, Russian pilots flew in an unsafe and
unprofessional manner while intercepting a U.S. Navy P-8A Maritime Patrol and
Reconnaissance Aircraft in U.S. Sixth Fleet, May 26, 2020."
"On May 26, 2020, a U.S. Navy P-8A aircraft was flying in the Eastern
Mediterranean over international waters and was intercepted by two Russian Su-35
aircraft over a period of 65 minutes. The intercept was determined to be unsafe
and unprofessional due to the Russian pilots taking close station on each wing
of the P-8A simultaneously, restricting the P-8A’s ability to safely maneuver."
"The unnecessary actions of the Russian Su-35 pilots were inconsistent with good
airmanship and international flight rules, and jeopardized the safety of flight
of both aircraft."
"While the Russian aircraft was operating in international airspace, this
interaction was irresponsible. We expect them to operate within international
standards set to ensure safety and to prevent incidents, including the 1972
Agreement for the Prevention of Incidents On and Over the High Seas (INCSEA).
Actionsý like these increase the potential for midair collisions."
"This incident follows two unsafe interactions in April, over the same waters.
In all cases, the U.S. aircraft were operating in international airspace,
consistent with international law, with due regard for safety of flight, and did
not provoke this Russian activity."
https://youtu.be/JLFfO1E3nAQ
https://youtu.be/OS_uc5jXHA0
Unsafe and unprofessional Russian intercepts of American aircraft are not
necessarily uncommon, both around Europe and elsewhere around the world. They're
so routine that the Navy had even developed dedicated camera pods for its EP-3E
Aries II intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft to capture
evidence of similar altercations.
However, the time of this incident, coming soon after the U.S. Africa Command
(AFRICOM) statement regarding Russian MiG-29s and other combat jets heading
toward Libya, makes it particularly notable. As we mentioned at the start of
this article, one or more P-8As were very likely responsible for capturing some
of the evidence of those aircraft making their way to the North African country
by way of Syria. The multi-role maritime patrol jets spend a lot of time flying
racetrack patterns off the Syrian coast where Russia's air base is located in
the war-torn country. From there perch they can monitor Russia's actions at the
base and around the Eastern Mediterranean.
The already convoluted civil war in that country has become more complex in
recent months as Turkey has expanded its involvement in the conflict, something
you can read about more in these past War Zone pieces. The Turkish government
has become the primary benefactor of the U.N.-recognized Government of National
Accord (GNA), which has been fighting for years against strongman Khalifa Haftar
and his Libyan National Army (LNA). The LNA enjoys support from Russia, as well
as the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, among others.
Haftar recently suffered a major defeat, which appears to have prompted the
Kremlin to rush additional reinforcements in the form of advanced combat jets to
help the LNA. There are also concerns that this deployment could have broader
impacts on regional security, in addition to leading to a worrisome escalation
in Libya's civil war.
"If Russia seizes basing on Libya's coast, the next logical step is they deploy
permanent long-range anti-access area denial (A2AD) capabilities," U.S. Air
Force General Jeff Harrigian, head of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces
Africa, had said as part of the AFRICOM statement on the Russian combat jets
earlier on May 26. "If that day comes, it will create very real security
concerns on Europe's southern flank."
This latest intercept in the Meditteranean certainly seems to be a response at
least to the U.S. military's efforts to monitor Russia's activities in the
region and especially in regards to the country's deepening involvement in the
ongoing conflict in Libya.
*
The U.S. Navy has released a video and images showing two fully-armed Russian
Su-35 Flanker-E fighter jets flying dangerously close to one of its P-8A
Poseidon maritime patrol planes over international waters in the Eastern
Mediterranean Sea today. The incident comes after U.S. Africa Command issued a
press release, along with images, some of which a P-8A appeared to have
captured, showing Russian combat jets making their way to Libya to reinforce
mercenaries and other forces fighting there on behalf of rogue general Khalifa
Haftar, something The War Zone had already been investigating in depth.
The Navy says that two Su-35s intercepted and flew on either side of the P-8A
over a period of 65 minutes. The U.S. Sixth Fleet, which oversees American naval
operations around Europe, including in the Mediterranean, said that there had
also been two other unsafe intercepts in the general area in April.
The full Navy press release is as follows:
"For the third time in two months, Russian pilots flew in an unsafe and
unprofessional manner while intercepting a U.S. Navy P-8A Maritime Patrol and
Reconnaissance Aircraft in U.S. Sixth Fleet, May 26, 2020."
"On May 26, 2020, a U.S. Navy P-8A aircraft was flying in the Eastern
Mediterranean over international waters and was intercepted by two Russian Su-35
aircraft over a period of 65 minutes. The intercept was determined to be unsafe
and unprofessional due to the Russian pilots taking close station on each wing
of the P-8A simultaneously, restricting the P-8A’s ability to safely maneuver."
"The unnecessary actions of the Russian Su-35 pilots were inconsistent with good
airmanship and international flight rules, and jeopardized the safety of flight
of both aircraft."
"While the Russian aircraft was operating in international airspace, this
interaction was irresponsible. We expect them to operate within international
standards set to ensure safety and to prevent incidents, including the 1972
Agreement for the Prevention of Incidents On and Over the High Seas (INCSEA).
Actionsý like these increase the potential for midair collisions."
"This incident follows two unsafe interactions in April, over the same waters.
In all cases, the U.S. aircraft were operating in international airspace,
consistent with international law, with due regard for safety of flight, and did
not provoke this Russian activity."
https://youtu.be/JLFfO1E3nAQ
https://youtu.be/OS_uc5jXHA0
Unsafe and unprofessional Russian intercepts of American aircraft are not
necessarily uncommon, both around Europe and elsewhere around the world. They're
so routine that the Navy had even developed dedicated camera pods for its EP-3E
Aries II intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft to capture
evidence of similar altercations.
However, the time of this incident, coming soon after the U.S. Africa Command
(AFRICOM) statement regarding Russian MiG-29s and other combat jets heading
toward Libya, makes it particularly notable. As we mentioned at the start of
this article, one or more P-8As were very likely responsible for capturing some
of the evidence of those aircraft making their way to the North African country
by way of Syria. The multi-role maritime patrol jets spend a lot of time flying
racetrack patterns off the Syrian coast where Russia's air base is located in
the war-torn country. From there perch they can monitor Russia's actions at the
base and around the Eastern Mediterranean.
The already convoluted civil war in that country has become more complex in
recent months as Turkey has expanded its involvement in the conflict, something
you can read about more in these past War Zone pieces. The Turkish government
has become the primary benefactor of the U.N.-recognized Government of National
Accord (GNA), which has been fighting for years against strongman Khalifa Haftar
and his Libyan National Army (LNA). The LNA enjoys support from Russia, as well
as the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, among others.
Haftar recently suffered a major defeat, which appears to have prompted the
Kremlin to rush additional reinforcements in the form of advanced combat jets to
help the LNA. There are also concerns that this deployment could have broader
impacts on regional security, in addition to leading to a worrisome escalation
in Libya's civil war.
"If Russia seizes basing on Libya's coast, the next logical step is they deploy
permanent long-range anti-access area denial (A2AD) capabilities," U.S. Air
Force General Jeff Harrigian, head of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces
Africa, had said as part of the AFRICOM statement on the Russian combat jets
earlier on May 26. "If that day comes, it will create very real security
concerns on Europe's southern flank."
This latest intercept in the Meditteranean certainly seems to be a response at
least to the U.S. military's efforts to monitor Russia's activities in the
region and especially in regards to the country's deepening involvement in the
ongoing conflict in Libya.
*