VIDEO: Russian Fighter Buzzes U.S. Navy Surveillance Plane Over Black Sea

January 30, 2018 1:45 PM
US Navy image of a Russian Su-27 fighter buzzing a EP-3E surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea on Jan. 29, 2017.

The U.S. Navy released footage from a Monday intercept of an EP-3E Aries II surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea.

The footage shows a Sukhoi Su-27 fighter race past a camera on the Aries II with what appears to be a full weapons loadout.
In a Monday statement, the Navy said the fighter came within five feet of the EP-3E.

“This interaction was determined to be unsafe due to the SU-27 closing to within five feet and crossing directly through the EP-3’s flight path, causing the EP-3 to fly through the SU-27’s jet wash,” read a statement from U.S. 6th Fleet.
“The duration of the intercept lasted two hours and 40 minutes.”

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone is the editor of USNI News. He has covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services since 2009 and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy.
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