A Russian Su-27 fighter jet flew within six metres of an unarmed RAF Rivet Joint spy plane travelling at 500 miles per hour over the Black Sea, one of two mid-air incidents last month that the UK defence secretary, John Healey, has described as 'dangerous and unacceptable'.
Details of the Incidents
In mid-April, the Su-27 conducted six passes in front of the Rivet Joint, coming dangerously close to its nose and risking a collision that could have sparked a diplomatic crisis between the United Kingdom and Russia. On a separate occasion, also in mid-April, a Russian Su-35 jet flew so close to the British surveillance aircraft that it triggered its emergency systems, including disabling the autopilot, while the plane was conducting a routine mission over international waters.
Rivet Joint Capabilities
The Rivet Joint is a sophisticated spy plane with a crew of up to 30, capable of electronic surveillance over a range of approximately 150 miles. It was monitoring Russian activity as part of a NATO patrol when the incidents occurred.
'This incident is another example of dangerous and unacceptable behaviour by Russian pilots, towards an unarmed aircraft operating in international airspace,' Healey said. 'These actions create a serious risk of accidents and potential escalation.'
The Ministry of Defence confirmed on Wednesday that this is the most dangerous Russian action against a British Rivet Joint since 2022, when a Russian plane fired a missile over the Black Sea.
Broader Russian Military Activity
Russia has been intensifying its military presence across Europe. In a separate event on Wednesday, Lithuanian politicians were forced to take shelter underground, and air traffic at Vilnius airport was temporarily suspended after a drone violated the country's airspace. A day earlier, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations claimed Moscow had intelligence that Ukraine planned to launch military drones from Latvia and other Baltic states, a claim Latvia dismissed as 'pure fiction'.
Last month, two Russian frigates escorted oil tankers and a suspected arms shipment through the North Sea and the Dover Strait, requiring a month-long surveillance patrol by the Royal Navy. Healey also revealed that the UK had tracked three Russian submarines that loitered over critical undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic for a month before departing.
'I would like to pay tribute to the outstanding professionalism and bravery of the RAF crew who continued with their mission despite these dangerous actions,' Healey added. 'Let me be very clear: This incident will not deter the UK's commitment to defend NATO, our allies and our interests from Russian aggression.'
