The Russian Defence Ministry on Friday said that it scrambled a Sukhoi Su-27 fighter aircraft to intercept a US P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance jet heading towards the Russian airspace over the Black Sea.
"A Su-27 fighter jet as part of the Southern Military District's air defences was scrambled to intercept the target. The crew flew the aircraft at a safe distance to the aerial target and identified it as a US P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance jet, which immediately changed the direction of its flight to fly away from the Russian state border," Sputnik quoted the ministry as saying.
The Russian flight was carried out in line with international rules and the fighter jet returned to its home base after completing the mission, the ministry added.
The United States is currently taking part in NATO's Sea Breeze naval drills in the Black Sea. In response, Russia has kicked off its own "combat training exercises" in the water body.
Russian forces have spotted 26 foreign surveillance aircraft near its airspace over the past week, as per the Russian Armed Forces' official newspaper, Krasnaya Zvezda. Russian military jets have been deployed thrice this week to block foreign aircraft from breaching the Russian airspace, the newspaper added
US, Canada Intercept China, Russia Planes Near Alaska "Putin's Palace" Near Black Sea Refashioned Into A Church: Report Ukraine Says Destroyed Another Russian Warship In Black Sea US Millionaire, Who Died By Suicide, Owed $34 Million With $8,000 In Bank Elderly Man Slapped, Abused On Train Over Suspicion Of Carrying Beef Manipur Chief Minister Slams Tejashwi Yadav Over "Racist" Jab At Himanta Sarma 8 Killed After Bus Carrying 47 Overturns In US State Of Mississippi: Report Trump "Disrespected Sacred Ground' At US Military Cemetery: Kamala Harris Top 10 US Universities Based On Forbes Rankings 2024 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.