Earlier in the day, the 6th US Fleet reported that a Russian SU-35 had intercepted a US P-8A Poseidon at least three times on June 4, stating that one of the interactions was “unsafe” and put at risk to the United States team
The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that it rejects the United States’ claim that the Russian SU-35 fighter had conducted the interception of the US military plane over the Mediterranean in an unsafe manner.
The Russian plane had been making flights in compliance with international standards, the Russian Ministry of Defense added.
“On June 4, around 12:30 p.m. Moscow time [0930 GMT], the Russian airspace control systems of the Hmeymim air base in Syria detected an air target [subsequently identified as P-8A Poseidon] over the neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea that was advancing towards the base point of the Russian naval installation in Tartus … After the American aircraft changed its trajectory, the Russian fighter returned to the air base”, said the Russian Ministry of Defense.
At 3:41 pm, Russia detected that the P-8A was approaching the naval installation in Tartus, the ministry added.
“The Su-35 approached the aircraft at a safe distance and followed the US aircraft until the P-8A changed its trajectory and left the airspace controlled by the [Russian] air defense systems,” said the Ministry of Defense. Russian defense.
The sixth fleet of the United States Navy said that on Tuesday, Russian fighter Su-35C “intercepted” a US plane flying in international airspace over the Mediterranean Sea three times in three hours.
One of the “interceptions” was called insecure by the United States Army. According to the report, the Russian aircraft “made a high-speed pass directly in front of the mission plane, which put the pilots and crew at risk”.
The Su-35C is a highly modernized 4-generation ultra-maneuverable fighter.
Source: NewsFront
