Russian Jets Intercept US B-1B Bombers

Two Russian fighters- a Su-27 and Su-30 intercepted two US B-1B bombers near the Black Sea region ‘forcing’ them to move away from the Russian border.

"Su-27P and Su-30SM fighters from the air defense alert quick reaction forces of the Southern Military District were scrambled to intercept the targets," the Russian defence ministry said Friday.

The crews of the Russian fighters approached the air targets within a safe distance and identified them as B-1B strategic aircraft, after which "the US bombers changed their flight course and flew away from the state border of Russia," the statement said.

The US Air Forces in Europe and US Air Forces Africa Command issued a statement earlier on Friday that two B-1B Lancers conducted a long-range, long duration flight throughout Europe and the Black Sea region. Images posted on social media show the US bombers conducting joint flights with Ukrainian Su-27 and MiG-29 Jets.

Friday's events come just days after an incident over the Mediterranean Sea on Tuesday in which a pair of Russian Su-35 fighters accompanied a US Navy P-8A Poseidon spy plane flying near Russia's Syrian bases. The US Navy accused the Russian pilots of flying in an "unsafe and unprofessional manner" after the Su-35s reportedly took up positions just meters from either side of the Poseidon and proceeded to escort it for over an hour.