Russia Military Intercepts U.S. Spy Plane While Conducting Massive Pacific Drills in Asia

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2021-06-10 21:00:20

A Russian fighter jet has intercepted a U.S. spy plane over the Pacific Ocean as the Russian military conducted a massive set of drills in the region.

The Russian Defense Ministry reported Thursday that "an air target approaching the State border of the Russian Federation was detected by Russian airspace control over the Pacific Ocean." This target turned out to be a U.S. Air Force RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft, and the Russian military scrambled a Su-35 fighter jet to escort the incoming plane away.

The RC-135 then conducted a U-turn away from Russian airspace and "violations of the State border of the Russian Federation were not allowed," according to the statement. The Su-35, for its part, "proceeded in strict compliance with the international rules of using airspace."

U.S. Pacific Air Forces did not immediately respond to Newsweek's request for comment, but such incidents are not uncommon between the two countries, both of which straddle the world's largest ocean and also operate in overlapping airspace in other strategic regions.