Four Russian military aircraft conducted low passes against a U.S. destroyer in the Black Sea last week, the first such military provocation since the new Trump administration took office. The first buzzing involved two Russian Su-24 jet fighters followed by a single Su-24 and, in a third incident, an IL-38 transport aircraft.
The first buzzing involved two Russian Su-24 jet fighters followed by a single Su-24 and, in a third incident, an IL-38 transport aircraft.
Russian strategic bomber forces recently completed a major nuclear exercise that the U.S. military worried would involve provocative bomber flights into U.S. air defense zones.
Instead, the only Russian bomber incursion during the exercise involved two Tu-95 nuclear-capable bombers that flew close to Japan on Jan. 24.
This event follows a similar three incidents in which Russian aircraft made low passes on Feb. 10 while USS Porter (DDG-78) was operating in international waters in the Black Sea, as reported by USNI News. The flybys were much less provocative than when USS Donald Cook (DDG-75) was buzzed by a pair of Fencers in the Baltic Sea last April.
According to a U.S. official that was quoted by CBS, “They were so close they created wakes in the water.”
“One of the passes, which occurred while the allied helicopter was refueling on the deck of Donald Cook, was deemed unsafe by the ship’s commanding officer. As a safety precaution, flight operations were suspended until the SU-24s departed the
area.”
The following day, a pair of KA27 Kamov Helix helicopters orbited the ship taking photos in what officials called a “simulated attack profile” in several press reports.
Putin continues playing hard ball against his good friends in his back yard. Is the President willing to step up to the plate against Putin? Putin certainly is willing to pitch, but is the President willing to catch? He better keep his football handy, that is if he can find it…...