On Sunday, April 19, 2020, the U.S. Navy's 6th Fleet Public Affairs office released this video
showing a Russian Federation Air Force Su-35 Flanker approaching a Navy P-8A plane.
The footage, taken from within the navy aircraft, follows the Russian fighter jet's trajectory
as it intercepted the American plane as it flew over the Mediterranean Sea.
While the two countries disagree over the legality and danger of the intercept,
both agreed that the incident was firmly in international airspace
where both countries often push aviation safety to its limits…
The Aircraft
The two aircraft involved in the incident were an
American Boeing P-8 Poseidon and a Russian Sukhoi Su-35.
The P-8 Poseidon is a military plane designed and produced by Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
Despite being commissioned by the United States Navy, the aircraft's used by military allies,
including the Royal Australian Air Force, Indian Navy, Royal Air Force,
and even the Republic of Korea Navy. The plane has been a part of Navy aerial arsenal since 2009.
Used in anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare plane, the Posedian includes torpedoes,
harpoon anti-ship missiles, and other variable weapons. It can spy through sonobuoys,
an unmanned aerial vehicle, as well as other surveillance technologies.
The Russian aircraft was a Sukhoi Su-35, known to NATO as Flanker-E variant.
It's a single-seat, supermaneuverable, twin-engine jet created by the Sukhoi
Design Bureau and built at the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft facility.
The jet was designed by the Soviet Union as a follow-up to the Su-27M. When it was first
incorporated into the Soviet military, the plane used canards and a multi-function radar that was
not common in aircraft. The first flight of a Sukhoi took place in June 1988. After the
Soviet Union dissolved, Sukhoi renamed the jet Su-35 and started selling it to other countries.
In 2003, the model was upgraded and modernized, serving as a placeholder for the Su-57 program.
These planes received a redesigned cockpit and weaponry control system.
Thrust vectoring engines replaced original canards.
The upgraded Su-35 flew in February 2008 for the first time and has since been integrated
into their Air Force. Other countries have also placed orders for the Russian jet,
including China and Indonesia.
American Reaction
The U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and the U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs
released a statement explaining what happened from the U.S. perspective.
They claimed that while a P-8A aircraft was flying in international airspace
above the Mediterranean Sea, conducting routine maritime patrol and reconnaissance operations,
a Russian SU-35 jet was followed for 100 minutes. According to the Navy, the first interception was
safe and within the parameters of international law. But, the second interception was conducted
at high-speed in a high-power maneuver, which reduced the distance between the two aircraft to
a dangerous 25 feet. The Russian jet proceeded to fly directly in front of the American one,
which according to the Navy, caused turbulence and exposed their plane to jet exhaust.
The American pilot, flying at a consistent speed and altitude,
descend to sufficiently gain distance from the aircraft and prevent a collision.
The American Navy characterized the acts of the Russian Pilots as [QUOTE] "unsafe and
unprofessional". Furthermore, they stated that [QUOTE] "The unnecessary actions of
the Russian SU-35 pilot were inconsistent with good airmanship and international flight rules,
seriously jeopardizing the safety of flight of both aircraft.'
They deemed it a violation of the 1972 Agreement for the Prevention of Incidents On
and Over the High Seas. The Russian actions also violated several other treaties and agreements.
The Navy expressed concern that interceptions such as this one could lead to mid-air collisions,
especially with a decreased reaction time for correcting any mistakes or miscalculations.
The Navy also referenced another interaction that raised concern.
On April 15, 2020, at only 25 feet away, a Russian SU-35 flew inverted over the P-8A.
According to the American Navy, the U.S. aircraft had been following the law on both occasions. They
had done nothing to provoke the Russian pilots. The Navy hoped by publicly calling out Russia,
they would lead the country to order their pilots to stick to international rules and regulations.
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper discussed the incident on NBC's "Today" show, stating
that in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, [QUOTE] "This is why I said we must maintain our
national mission capabilities — our readiness, our ability to protect the United States — because our
adversaries are not standing down." Russian Reaction
Russian forces operated in Syria at the time of the intercept, claiming that the
intercept was under circumstances opposing those the U.S. Navy claimed.
The Russians posted a statement saying, [QUOTE] "On April 19, an air target was
detected by Russian means of controlling airspace over the neutral waters of the Mediterranean Sea,
flying on a course to Russian military facilities in the Syrian Arab Republic. A fighter from the
air defense forces on duty at the Khmeimim airbase was raised to identify the target."
According to the Russian Air Defense Ministry, the SU-35 named the American vessel. It continued
on its journey to the base in Syria as soon as the American aircraft changed its course.
Furthermore, they took no responsibility for any wrongdoing, stating [QUOTE]
"All flights of the Russian Aerospace Forces took place and are taking place in strict
accordance with the international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters."
North American Aerospace Defense Command Procedures
Most aviation rules for both in-country and international airspace allow interception of
military and civilian aircraft, but only under strict conditions and only if it poses a threat
to the parties involved. Otherwise, interception may end up being interpreted as an act of war.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command Procedures allow for interceptions for the
following purposes, [QUOTE] "The reasons for aircraft intercept include, but are not limited
to: Identify an aircraft; Track an aircraft; Inspect an aircraft; Divert an aircraft;
Establish communications with an aircraft." However, American rules dictate that [QUOTE]
"Interceptor aircraft will initiate a controlled closure toward the aircraft of interest,
holding at a distance no closer than deemed necessary to establish positive identification
and gather the necessary information." International aviation rules also dictate
that the distance of an approach must not be less than necessary for gathering information
and keeping all parties safe. It is unclear whether the Russian SU-35 fully complied
with these international expectations. Some have asserted that the Russian
Federation touts the line between acceptable and provoking to the international community.