Russian forces ensured there was no violation of country’s borders, says Defense Ministry.
MOSCOW (AA) – Russian jets escorted five American and French planes over the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.
Three Su-27 fighters were scrambled after airspace controls detected air targets over the neutral waters of the Black Sea coming toward Russia’s borders on Thursday, according to a ministry statement.
The planes were identified as “two tactical fighter Mirage 2000 and Rafale AF of France, the spy plane CL-600 Artemis of the US army, strategic reconnaissance aircraft RC-135 USAF and tanker aircraft KC-135 AF of France.”
The ministry said Russian jets escorted them over the Black Sea and returned safely, ensuring that “there was no violation of the state border of the Russian Federation.”
The Russian fighters operated “in strict accordance with the international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters without crossing air routes and dangerous approach to aircraft of foreign states,” the statement concluded.