Daily Mail: Russian Su-27 fighter jets buzz US nuclear-capable B-52 bomber: Pilots repeatedly fly within 100ft of its nose and use their afterburners to wash it with turbulence over the Black Sea
* Two Russian Su-27 fighter jets intercepted B-52 bomber over Black Sea on Friday
* US Air Force accused Russian pilots of coming within 100ft of B-52 bomber
* Russia said it sent warplanes because B-52 was 'headed for Russian border'
* On Friday, US flew six B-52 bombers over all 30 members of the NATO alliance
* Military tensions appear to be ratcheting up between two Cold War-era foes
* Four US troops were hurt when Russian vehicle sideswiped them in Syria
* Russia on Friday confirmed that it was holding major war games near Alaska
* Fishermen in Bering Sea reported being alarmed by presence of Russian assets
* Russian nuclear submarine Omsk surfaced in international water near Alaska
* They are the largest drills Russia has held in the area since Soviet times
The United States military on Saturday accused Russian fighter pilots of conducting an ‘unsafe and unprofessional’ intercept of a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber that was conducting ‘routine operations’ over the Black Sea on Friday morning.
According to a statement from the Air Force, two Russian Su-27 jets crossed to within 100ft of the nose of the B-52 multiple times as the US bomber flew over international airspace.
The US military said the Russian pilots’ shift to afterburner mode caused turbulence for the American aircraft, limiting the pilot’s ability to maneuver.
Read more ....
Update #1: US Air Force says Russian fighters executed 'unsafe' intercept of B-52 bomber over Black Sea (Business Insider)
Update #2: 2 Russian aircraft make 'unsafe' intercept of US Air Force B-52 bomber (CNN)
WNU Editor: These B-52s have been flying all over Europe .... Six B-52s Are Flying Over All 30 NATO Nations In An Unprecedented Show Of Force (Warzone/The Drive). According to TASS, Russian fighters also intercepted a US Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance plane over the Black Sea .... Russian fighter scrambled to intercept US spy plane over Black Sea (TASS). The Russian news report on these intercepts is below:
Update #3: Russian media is also reporting a B-52 intercept in the Baltic Sea .... Russia Sends Two Su-27 Fighters to Intercept US B-52H Bomber Over Baltic Sea (Sputnik). It looks like the Americans are testing Russian air defenses by using their B-52s, hence the reason why there is a US Air Force RC-135 reconnaissance plane in the Black Sea.