The Russian Defense Ministry is claiming one of its fighter jets, an Su-27 Flanker, intercepted and escorted a U.S. B-52 bomber over the Baltic Sea on Tuesday.
The ministry said the U.S. plane was identified over international waters near Russia’s border. “A Sukhoi-27 fighter jet of the Baltic Sea Fleet’s air defense force was dispatched to intercept the target,” according to a statement provided to TASS news agency. “The crew of Russia’s Sukhoi-27 jet approached the aircraft staying at a safe distance, identified it as a US strategic bomber B-52 and escorted it for some time.”
Pentagon spokesman Navy Capt. Jeff Davis confirmed the intercept took place, and said the American B-52 was taking part in a previously announced U.S.-European exercise called BALTOPS that runs through June 16.
Davis said the plane was on a routine mission over the Baltic Sea, and while the crew had not yet filed a report on the intercept, he said the “vast majority” of interactions with the Russian are “safe and professional.”
The multinational maritime exercise happens every year in the Baltic Sea, and this year involves 6,000 troops from 14 countries, 50 ships and submarines, and more than 50 aircraft.
B-52s from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana deployed to Royal Air Force Base Fairford in the U.K. for exercises, according to a June 1 release from European Command. Besides BALTOPs, the bombers will take part in exercises Saber Strike and Arctic Challenge.
“The deployment of strategic bombers strengthens the effectiveness of RAF Fairford as the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa’s forward operating bomber location, while providing important integration and interaction with our joint partners, UK and NATO allies,” the statement said.
Jamie McIntyre contributed to this report.
