Russian MoD Denies US Claims of Unsafe Intercept of Spy Plane Over Mediterranean

Earlier in the day, the US 6th Fleet reported that a Russian SU-35 had intercepted an American P-8A Poseidon at least three times on 4 June, claiming that one of the interactions was "unsafe" and put the US crew at risk.

The Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement that it rejects the US claim that the Russian SU-35 fighter had unsafely conducted the intercept of the US military jet over the Mediterranean.

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The Russian aircraft had been carrying out flights in compliance with international rules, the Russian Defence Ministry added.

"On June 4, at around 12.30 p.m. Moscow time [09:30 GMT], Russian systems of control of the airspace of the Hmeymim air base in Syria detected an air target [later identified as P-8A Poseidon] above the neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea that was moving forward to the basing point of the Russian naval facility in Tartus… After the US aircraft changed its trajectory, the Russian fighter returned to the air base," the Russian Defence Ministry said.

At 3.41 p.m., Russia detected that the P-8A was approaching the naval facility in Tartus, the ministry added.

"The Su-35 approached the aircraft at a safe distance and tracked the US aircraft until the P-8A changed its trajectory and left the airspace controlled by the [Russian] air defense systems," the Russian Defence Ministry said.

The 6th fleet of the US Navy said that on Tuesday, the Russian Su-35C fighter "intercepted" a US plane flying in international airspace over the Mediterranean Sea three times in three hours.

One of the "interceptions" was called unsafe by the US military. According to the report, the Russian aircraft "conducted a high-speed passage directly in front of the mission plane, which put the pilots and crew at risk".

The Su-35C is a highly modernised ultra-maneuverable 4++ generation fighter.