Three Russian fighter jets escort U.S. bomber in Pacific Ocean
MOSCOW, Sept 26 (Reuters) – Three Russian SU-35S fighter jets have escorted a U.S. B-52H strategic bomber which was approaching Russia’s border in the Pacific Ocean, RIA news agency reported on Sunday, citing Moscow’s Defence Ministry.
It said the bomber had subsequently moved away from the border, while the Russian jets had returned to their bases.
According to Russian state news agency TASS, air defense radars on duty in the Eastern Military Region on Sunday spotted a ‘target’ over the Pacific Ocean that was approaching Russia’s airspace.
“In order to identify and escort the foreign plane, three Sukhoi-35S fighter plans of the Eastern Military Regions air defense were scrambled,” the National Defense Command Center told the outlet.
As they approached, the center said, ‘the fighters’ crews identified the target as a strategic B-52H bomber of the U.S. Air Force and escorted it over the Pacific Ocean.
‘There were no violations of Russia’s state border or dangerous proximity of planes in the air.’
The center also noted that the fighter planes ‘strictly followed’ international law and returned to base after the plane moved away from the border.
