"On May 26, 2020, a U.S. Navy P-8A aircraft was flying in the Eastern Mediterranean over international waters and was intercepted by two Russian Su-35 aircraft over a period of 65 minutes. The intercept was determined to be unsafe and unprofessional due to the Russian pilots taking close station on each wing of the P-8A simultaneously, restricting the P-8A’s ability to safely maneuver."
"The unnecessary actions of the Russian Su-35 pilots were inconsistent with good airmanship and international flight rules, and jeopardized the safety of flight of both aircraft."
"While the Russian aircraft was operating in international airspace, this interaction was irresponsible. We expect them to operate within international standards set to ensure safety and to prevent incidents, including the 1972 Agreement for the Prevention of Incidents On and Over the High Seas (INCSEA). Actions like these increase the potential for midair collisions."
"This incident follows two unsafe interactions in April, over the same waters. In all cases, the U.S. aircraft were operating in international airspace, consistent with international law, with due regard for safety of flight, and did not provoke this Russian activity."
Yeah, bad Russians, bad bad Russians. Cool photos though.
ReplyDeleteTom 'Maverick" Cruise will take care of them pesky Ruskis.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they want to try out for the Blue Angels team?
ReplyDeleteI bet the Navy really would like to have a navalized version of the F-22 if only to tuck in on the wing of one of those Su-35s. to bad Lockheed was required to bust up the jigs because democrats.
ReplyDeleteinteresting weapon mix on the Su35s. one has all radar seekers and the other has IR seekers. P-8 have a nifty elint suite and to be sure, they picked up everything going on in both the Su35s. that close in they probably picked up all electrical activity going on.
ReplyDeleteshitheads played games with us up in Iceland areas back in the bad old days before INSEA and well into the 1980s. This is nothing new. We used to have F4s from 57FIS come out and escort the bears away from us. Perhaps, they were baiting the Navy to bring up some more assets to practice some DCM.
two things to consider here. the first is the US pulling out of the Open Sky protocol and the second is that the Russian military believes that a great offense is the only way to defend one self.
ReplyDeleteExpect to see more of this because while the communists liked to have the appearance of being lawful, the present russian leaders couldn't give a damn unless the laws and treaties are in accord with their own desires.
I bet our F=15's fly closer to Bears. inverted. At least I hope they do. Get right up in their face.
ReplyDeletewe all played that kind of gamesmanship beginning long ago and we all still do it. it's a no win situation. just because you say a thing is so, it means nothing unless your willing to back up the words with deeds.
DeleteWhy doesn't the P-8 shoot off some of them defensive flairs?? That'll make them move!!
ReplyDeleteput yourself in the Su-35 cockpit. would you consider a flare up your butt to be a hostile act? The whole evolution is about getting the P-8 to change course. we all know how this game is played. doing something stupid because the other guy is doing something unsafe has never worked too well in the past as evidenced by an EP-3 having a midair with a chinese fighter over the south china sea. In that case the blame was squarely placed on a overtly aggressive fighter pilot so that higher up the food chain could deny responsibility. you may or may not see the same here. in these cases, I believe the "rule of tonnage" comes into play.
DeleteUSN aviators are extremely dedicated to their oath and obeying orders, contrary to the crap one sees in film. One hopes russian aviators are the same. in close and in contact is two completely different things.
Lighten up cap'n
ReplyDeletemessage received
Delete"Expect to see more of this because while the communists liked to have the appearance of being lawful, the present russian leaders couldn't give a damn unless the laws and treaties are in accord with their own desires."
ReplyDeleteAgree completely. But there is more...
Expect to see more of this because while the communists liked to have the appearance of being lawful, the present unitedState leaders couldn't give a damn unless the laws and treaties are in accord with their own desires.
Can't help it but i just hate communists.
Come on, guys....you sound like pussies....just fly the damn planes and quit bitchin'....
ReplyDeleteNeither deploying a couple of IR decoys, nor having the Sukhois bounced by a flight of F-22s toting full warshots, and lighting the Russians up with a targeting radar, would go amiss to make a point.
ReplyDeleteEven better, find four guys in F-22s who flew with the Thunderbirds, and have them hold a tight formation until just BVR, and then blossom into a four plane flight, and Ivan will be washing fecal material out of his flightsuit and seatpan.
"He rubbed you. Rubbin's racin'." - Harry Hogge, Days Of Thunder