A MiG-31 "Foxhound" fighter intercepted a US Navy maritime patrol near Kamchatka in the far east of Russia last week. The episode was announced only a few hours ago.
Washington this time minimizes, stating that the maneuver took place in a "safe and professional" manner.
Explain from the Pacific Command: "The 21 last April, a Boeing P-8 Poseidon of the US Navy, on a reconnaissance flight during a routine mission in international airspace, was intercepted by a Russian MiG-31 near the peninsula of Kamchatka. The maneuver was carried out safely and professionally ".
Episodes of this kind are very frequent. They continue from the Pacific Command: "Such maneuvers often take place with US air forces and almost always in a professional manner. When they are not, the United States takes the appropriate military and diplomatic countermeasures ".
This time it is the Russians who issue other details. The MiG-31 approached 15 meters from the maritime patrol. The Russians point out that the American aircraft was flying in international airspace, but near the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. The latter houses one of the most important naval bases in the country and the main repository for nuclear missiles that equip ballistic submarines.
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky is home to several units of the Pacific Fleet.
(photo: MoD Russian Federation / US Navy)
