USAF Rivet Joint intercepted by Russian Su-27s

On Saturday 28 November 2020, two Russian Federation Sukhoi Su-27s flew to identify and escort an USAF 55th Wing RC-135W Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft over the Black Sea.

It was stated by the National Defense Control Center (NDCC) of the Russian Federation (part of the Russian Ministry of Defence) that they discovered an unknown air target approaching the state border of the Russian Federation on Saturday.

The duo Su-27Ps from the Air Defence Forces of the Southern Military District were SCRAMBLE'd into the air and the Quick Reaction Alert crew identified the air target as a strategic reconnaissance OF coded RC-135W, with serial number 62-4125. The flight then escorted their target over the waters of the Black Sea until the Rivet Joint turned away from the state border. The Su-27Ps returned safely to their home air base as stated by the Russian MoD. The RC-135W returned back to Souda Air Base at Crete (Greece).

  
Photos: RF MoD and TASS / Graphic: Blue Saron via Twitter