Russia's Su-27 intercepts U.S., Swedish Air Force planes over Baltics near Russian border - Russian Defense Ministry
MOSCOW. June 11 (Interfax) - A Russian fighter jet intercepted U.S. and Swedish Air Force reconnaissance aircraft approaching the Russian border in the Baltic region, the Russian Defense Ministry's information department said on Tuesday.
"Russian airspace monitoring systems detected two air targets that were approaching the state border of the Russian Federation over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea on June 10. A [Sukhoi] Su-27 fighter jet of the Baltic Fleet's air defense on-duty forces was scrambled to intercept the targets," the ministry said.
"The crew of the Russian fighter jet approached these objects in the air at a safe distance and identified them as an RC-135 reconnaissance plane of the U.S. Air Force and a Gulfstream reconnaissance plane of the Air Force of Sweden," it said.
"The Su-27 fighter jet's pilot reported the identities of the foreign reconnaissance aircraft and continued to escort them in accordance with all the necessary safety requirements in order to prevent any violation of the airspace of the Russian Federation. The flight of the Russian Su-27 plane was in strict compliance with international rules for the use of airspace," the Russian ministry said.