Russian jet flew within six meters

Britain said on May 20 that two Russian fighter jets repeatedly and dangerously intercepted an unarmed Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea during a routine mission in April. The aircraft was a Rivet Joint, a signals-intelligence platform operated by the RAF in international airspace as part of NATO eastern flank surveillance, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. London said one Russian Su-35 came close enough to trigger emergency systems on the British aircraft, including disabling its autopilot. In a separate intercept, a Russian Su-27 made six passes in front of the plane and flew as close as six metres from its nose. ### Where did the six-metre claim come from? The six-metre figure came from the UK Ministry of Defence, which published the allegation on May 20 along with video and still images from the encounter. The ministry said the Su-27 “conducted six passes in front of the British aircraft, flying as close as six metres of the Rivet Joint’s nose.” (gov.uk) CBS News, citing the same British statement, reported that the ministry released a 12-second video of the alleged intercept. The UK has presented the episode as an official military incident, not just a social-media claim. ### What aircraft was involved, and what was it doing? The British aircraft was an RAF Rivet Joint, an RC-135W reconnaissance plane used for electronic surveillance. (gov.uk) The Ministry of Defence said it was unarmed and carrying out a routine flight in international airspace over the Black Sea alongside allies working to secure NATO’s eastern flank. (cbsnews.com) The ministry said the RAF crew completed the planned flight despite the intercepts. Defence Secretary John Healey said the crew remained “calm and professional throughout,” and he called the Russian pilots’ conduct “dangerous and unacceptable.” ### What does Britain say the Russian pilots did? (gov.uk) The UK said the two intercepts involved different Russian aircraft and different maneuvers. In the first, a Russian Su-35 flew close enough to trigger the Rivet Joint’s emergency systems, including disabling the autopilot, according to the Ministry of Defence. (gov.uk) In the second, a Russian Su-27 crossed in front of the aircraft six times and came within six metres of its nose, the ministry said. Reuters, citing the British statement, reported that the incident raised the risk of accidents and possible escalation between NATO and Russia. (gov.uk) ### Was this described as unusually serious? John Healey said the April encounter was “the most dangerous Russian action against a UK Rivet Joint since 2022,” when a Russian aircraft fired a missile near a British plane over the Black Sea. Britain said Moscow later described that 2022 launch as a technical malfunction. (usnews.com) The British government linked the latest episode to wider tensions with Russia around NATO operations and regional security. Reuters noted the disclosure came during a week of other security incidents in the Baltic region. ### How did Britain respond? (gov.uk) The UK Ministry of Defence said representatives from the ministry and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office formally demarched the Russian Embassy in London this week to condemn the pilots’ behavior. Healey said the intercept “will not deter the UK’s commitment to defend NATO, our allies and our interests from Russian aggression.” (usnews.com) As of the British announcement on May 20, the core public account of the incident rested on the UK government’s statement, its released imagery and video, and follow-up reporting from outlets including Reuters and CBS. The next public documentation is likely to come through any Russian response, further UK military releases, or additional imagery tied to the April Black Sea flight. (gov.uk)