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Russian Su-27 fighter scrambled to intercept US strategic bombers over Baltic

Russian radars detected two air targets approaching the national sovereign airspace

Su-27 Sergei Bobylyov/Russian Defense Ministry's press service/TASS, archive

Su-27

© Sergei Bobylyov/Russian Defense Ministry's press service/TASS, archive

MOSCOW, March 3. /TASS/. A Russian Su-27 fighter jet was scrambled to intercept two B-1B Lancer strategic bombers of the US Air Force over the Baltic Sea, Russia’s National Defense Control Center (at the Russian Defense Ministry) told reporters on Wednesday.

Russian radars detected two air targets approaching the national sovereign airspace. A Su-27 fighter jet of the Western Military District’s air defense units on duty was scrambled to intercept the aircraft.

"The crew of the Russian fighter aircraft identified the air targets as B-1B strategic bombers of the US Air Force and shadowed them over the Baltic Sea," the national center said.

There was no unauthorized incursion into Russia’s airspace. The National Defense Control Center pointed out that after the US aircraft had turned away from the Russian border, the Russian fighter jet safely returned to its home air base.

"The flight of the Russian fighter jet took place in strict accordance with international airspace rules," the center added.

The United States European Command (EUCOM) announced on February 2 that the US was deploying B-1B Lancer bombers to Norway for the first time. The squadron is scheduled to set up shop at the Orland air base for a month.

Commenting on the announcement, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that Moscow viewed this US step as a threat to regional security. She stated that the West built up military presence at the Russian border. The bombers are expected to fly missions in international airspace beyond the Arctic Circle and near the Northwest Russian coastline.

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