UK Defence Secretary John Healey has condemned as 'dangerous and unacceptable' two incidents last month in which Russian jets flew perilously close to an unarmed RAF surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea. In one encounter, an Su-27 came within six metres of the Rivet Joint spy plane, which was travelling at 500mph.
The Su-27 conducted six passes in front of the British aircraft, risking a collision that could have sparked a diplomatic crisis. In a separate incident, an Su-35 flew so close that it triggered the spy plane's emergency systems, disabling the autopilot.
The Rivet Joint, which carries a crew of up to 30, was on a routine NATO patrol monitoring Russian activity. Healey praised the 'outstanding professionalism and bravery' of the RAF crew, who continued their mission despite the danger.
The Ministry of Defence described the incidents as the most aggressive Russian actions against a British Rivet Joint since a missile was fired near one in 2022. The encounters come amid heightened Russian military activity in Europe, including a drone violation of Lithuanian airspace and the passage of Russian frigates through the North Sea.
