Russian jet dangerously close to British military aircraft

An RAF Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft was repeatedly and dangerously intercepted by two Russian jets over the Black Sea last month, with one pass bringing a Russian Su-27 within six metres of the British aircraft’s nose, the Ministry of Defence has stated.

The incident, described by the MoD as the most dangerous Russian action against a UK Rivet Joint since 2022, involved two separate intercepts. A Russian Su-35 flew close enough to trigger emergency systems on the Rivet Joint, including disabling the autopilot. In a separate intercept, a Su-27 conducted six passes in front of the British aircraft, on one occasion closing to within six metres of the nose.

The Rivet Joint was conducting a routine flight in international airspace and was unarmed. The RAF crew completed their planned mission despite the intercepts. This week, representatives from the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office summoned the Russian Embassy to condemn the behaviour.

Defence Secretary John Healey paid tribute to the crew while making clear the incident would not alter British policy. “This incident is another example of dangerous and unacceptable behaviour by Russian pilots, towards an unarmed aircraft operating in international airspace. These actions create a serious risk of accidents and potential escalation. I would like to pay tribute to the outstanding professionalism and bravery of the RAF crew who continued with their mission despite these dangerous actions. Let me be very clear: this incident will not deter the UK’s commitment to defend NATO, our allies and our interests from Russian aggression.”

The intercepts took place days after Healey publicly exposed what he described as nefarious Russian submarine activity near critical underwater infrastructure in the North Atlantic, where British personnel, ships, and aircraft were deployed alongside allies. The MoD said the latest incident came amid continued Russian aggression and heightened military activity in Eastern Europe and the High North.

The RAF Rivet Joint is a signals intelligence and electronic surveillance aircraft operated by 51 Squadron from RAF Waddington. The platform uses advanced sensors to monitor electronic emissions, enhancing situational awareness for NATO forces. The 2022 incident referenced by the MoD involved a Russian aircraft firing a missile in the vicinity of a Rivet Joint over the Black Sea, which at the time prompted a formal diplomatic protest.