The Russian Ministry of Defense (MOD) has released a video filmed on June 26, 2020, showing the intercept of a U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon ISR (Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) aircraft from NAS Sigonella, and of U.S. Air Force RC-135W reconnaissance aircraft from RAF Mildenhall, UK, both flying over the neutral waters off Crimea.
The footage was filmed by a single Su-30 belonging to the Black Sea Fleet naval aviation that was scrambled to visually identify and escort the American aircraft.
Interestingly, the RC-135W was supported by a KC-135 tanker from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, and the Flanker pilot filmed, from safe distance, also the aerial refueling operations involving the Rivet Joint and the Stratotanker over the Black Sea.
In a news release 26 June, the Russian Defense Ministry said the Su-30s detected U.S. Navy P-8A “Poseidon” patrol plane, RC-135 strategic reconnaissance aircraft, and a US air force KC-135 tanker aircraft approaching the state border of the Russian Federation over the neutral waters of the Blck Sea.
The crew of a Russian fighter jet approached the air objects at a safe distance, the release said. It also noted that U.S. planes immediately changed the direction of flight from the state border of the Russian Federation.
Both the U.S. Navy Poseidon and the RC-135W could be tracked online during their ISR mission:
The flight of the Russian combat aircraft took place in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.
After completing the task, the Russian fighter returned safely to the home airfield.
