Two Russian fighter jets made “multiple and dangerous” interceptions of a Royal Air Force surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea in April, according to a statement from the UK Ministry of Defense on May 7.
The Rivet Joint, an unarmed aircraft, was conducting a routine reconnaissance mission in international airspace over the Black Sea to protect NATO’s eastern flank.
UK Defense Secretary John Healey described the incident as “another example of dangerous and unacceptable behavior by Russian pilots against an unarmed aircraft operating in international airspace.” He warned: “These actions create a serious risk of accident and escalation.”
According to the UK Ministry of Defense, the Rivet Joint was intercepted multiple times by a Russian Su-35 fighter, which flew so close that it triggered the emergency warning system on the British aircraft. Another Su-27 fighter made six approaches, flying within just 6 meters (under 20 feet) of the Rivet Joint’s nose.
UK Ministry of Defense and Foreign Office officials formally complained to the Russian Embassy about the incident this week. It is assessed as the most dangerous Russian action against a British surveillance aircraft since 2022, when a Russian aircraft fired a missile near a British plane over the Black Sea, which Moscow later called a technical malfunction.
The interception occurred days after Healey announced that the Royal Navy had tracked and “escorted” three Russian submarines away from a month-long “secret mission” in the Atlantic Ocean north of the UK, near critical underwater cables and pipelines.
“Let me be clear: This incident will not shake the UK’s commitment to defending NATO, our allies, and our interests against Russian aggression,” Healey warned.
The UK surveillance mission involved around 500 personnel, with British aircraft flying over 450 hours and a frigate traveling several thousand nautical miles. A defense review last year concluded that Russia poses an “immediate and urgent” threat to the United Kingdom.
