‘Unsafe’ intercept of a B-52 over the Black Sea is the latest example of the Russians being jerks
'The Russian pilots flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner while crossing within 100 feet of the nose of the B-52 multiple times at co-altitude and while in afterburner causing turbulence and restricting the B-52’s ability to maneuver.'
While US pilots like to draw sky penises, the Russians tend to be just plain dicks.
Most recently, two Russian SU-27 Flanker fighters got dangerously close to as U.S. B-52 that was flying over the Black Sea on Friday.
“The Russian pilots flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner while crossing within 100 feet of the nose of the B-52 multiple times at co-altitude and while in afterburner causing turbulence and restricting the B-52’s ability to maneuver,” according to a news story from U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa.
Maneuvers like that increase the risk of mid-air collisions, said Air Force Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, who leads airmen in Europe.
“While the Russian aircraft were operating in international airspace, they jeopardized the safety of flight of the aircraft involved,” Harrigian said in a statement. “We expect them to operate within international standards set to ensure safety and prevent accidents.”
This neo-Soviet measuring contest is not limited to Europe. On Thursday, the U.S. military dispatched fighters to intercept three pairs of Russian aircraft that had entered the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone.
And in June, two formations of Russian bombers and other Russian aircraft came within 32 nautical miles of Alaska.
Meanwhile, seven U.S. service members were injured on Tuesday when a Russian military vehicle collided with a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected All-Terrain Vehicle.
Since 2008, Russia has invaded Georgia and Ukraine. It is currently poised to send police officers to Belarus in order to prop up local dictator Alexander Lukashenko.
Related: Former Green Beret accused of spying on the US for Russia
