Two Russian fighter jets repeatedly and dangerously intercepted an unarmed RAF reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea last month in an incident that triggered the plane’s emergency systems and brought one of the Russian jets within six metres of the aircraft’s nose, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
The RAF’s RC-135W Rivet Joint — an electronic surveillance aircraft operated by No. 51 Squadron from RAF Waddington — was conducting a routine intelligence-gathering mission in international airspace when it was approached by a Russian Su-35 and a Su-27. The Su-35 came close enough to the Rivet Joint to activate its collision avoidance systems and disable its autopilot. The Su-27 made six separate passes in front of the aircraft, at one point closing to within six metres of its nose.
The MoD and the Foreign Office have both condemned the incident as “dangerous and unacceptable behaviour” and lodged a formal complaint with the Russian Embassy.
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “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 Rivet Joint was operating as part of wider efforts by Britain and its allies to monitor and secure NATO’s eastern flank at a time of heightened concern — including a number of recent drone incursions in the region. The aircraft flies unarmed and is used to gather signals intelligence, making it particularly vulnerable during such intercepts.
The incident is the latest in a long pattern of provocative Russian intercepts of NATO and British aircraft over the Black Sea. The most serious prior episode occurred in September 2022, when a Russian Su-27 released a missile in the vicinity of a Rivet Joint during an intercept — an incident later acknowledged by Russia as accidental. Following that episode, the MoD decided that Rivet Joints would in future be accompanied by Typhoon fighter escorts when conducting Black Sea patrols. It remains unclear from the MoJ’s account whether escort aircraft were present during last month’s encounter.
