Russian jet intercepts U.S. reconnaissance planes over Black Sea

APD NEWS

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After the U.S. planes flew away from the Russian state border, the Russian jet safely returned to its airfield.

MOSCOW, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- A Russian Su-27 fighter jet has intercepted a U.S. Navy P-8A and a U.S. Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance plane over the Black Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said Monday.

"Russian airspace control systems have detected two air targets approaching the Russian state border over the neutral waters of the Black Sea," the ministry's Zvezda broadcasting service said, without specifying the date of the incident.

A Su-27 fighter of the Southern Military District was scrambled to intercept the targets, it said.

After the U.S. planes flew away from the Russian state border, the Russian jet safely returned to its airfield, Zvezda said.

In the last few weeks, Russian fighter jets were scrambled regularly to intercept U.S. reconnaissance planes over the Black Sea. ■