A Russian Su-27 fighter escorted a German military aircraft over the Baltic Sea, observing international norms and without a dangerous rapprochement, the National Defense Control Center of the Russian Federation (a structure of the Russian Defense Ministry) reported.
“The crew of the Russian fighter identified the air target as an aircraft of the basic patrol aviation P-3C Orion of the German Navy and escorted it over the Baltic Sea. After the turn of a foreign military aircraft from the state border of the Russian Federation, the Russian fighter returned to the home airfield,” the National Center said.
“Violation of the state border of the Russian Federation was not allowed,” the report said.
“The flight of the Russian fighter was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters without crossing the air routes and dangerously approaching the aircraft of a foreign state,” the Russian military said.
According to them, the air target, which was approaching the state border of the Russian Federation, was detected by Russian airspace control equipment over the Baltic Sea.
“To identify the air target and prevent the violation of the state border of the Russian Federation, a Su-27 fighter from the air defense duty forces of the Baltic Fleet was lifted into the air,” the report said.
The Su-27 is a Fourth-generation Russian fighter developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau. The Su-27s are part of the air defense forces on duty.