Two Russian warplanes “repeatedly and dangerously” intercepted an unarmed RAF spy plane over the Black Sea last month, in what the Ministry of Defence described as the most dangerous encounter involving an RAF aircraft since 2022.
According to the MoD, a Russian Su-35 fighter approached the Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft closely enough to trigger its emergency systems and disable its autopilot. A Su-27 jet also carried out six passes in front of the RAF plane, coming within six metres (19ft) of its nose.
