In September, a Russian fighter jet fired a missile at a manned British surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea, but the weapon malfunctioned, according to a leaked classified U.S. intelligence report and U.S. defense officials. The incident, more severe than initially reported, could have been considered an act of war.
Two U.S. defense officials stated that the Russian pilot misunderstood a ground radar operator’s instructions and believed he had permission to fire. The missile failed to launch properly after being fired at the British aircraft.
In October, UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace described the near-miss as “potentially dangerous” during a parliamentary briefing. However, leaked documents labeled the September 29 event a “near-shoot down.” The Russian Embassy in Washington did not comment.
As per The New York Times report, tensions between NATO countries and Russia have escalated since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, with numerous incidents involving surveillance aircraft over the Black Sea. The situation has worsened as Ukraine relies more on Western intelligence to counter Russia’s invasion, which began last year.
In September, the close encounter between a British RC-135 Rivet Joint and two Russian Su-27 fighter jets was confirmed by two U.S. defense officials with direct knowledge. The British aircraft, typically manned by a crew of about 30 and capable of intercepting radio traffic, was in international airspace off the coast of Russian-occupied Crimea. The Russian pilots, who were not in visual range but had missile capabilities, were reportedly listening to intercepted communications between the British Rivet Joint and a Russian radar controller on the ground.
One official briefed on the incident described it as “really, really scary.” A British defense official, when asked to comment on the reporting and the leaked document, stated that a significant portion of the content was untrue or manipulated and advised caution regarding the veracity of the claims.
In October, Wallace said he took his concerns to the Russian military, including Russia’s defense minister, Sergei K. Shoigu. The Kremlin cited a “technical malfunction,” and Wallace did not consider the incident a deliberate escalation by the Russians. In response to the event, British Rivet Joint surveillance flights were temporarily suspended before resuming with fighter aircraft escorts over the Black Sea.
With tensions high and miscommunication a common issue in wartime scenarios, NATO surveillance flights now fly farther from Crimea than international law allows. The leaked documents also reveal multiple air-to-air incidents involving Russian and NATO aircraft since the September near-shoot down.
