Featured Military News U.S. Navy

Russian fighter jets fly meters over US Naval ship, conducting simulated attack

A Russian Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft makes a very-low altitude pass by the USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) April 12, 2016, in the Baltic Sea near Poland. Donald Cook, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, forward deployed to Rota, Spain is conducting a routine patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. U.S. NAVY 6TH FLEET PHOTO/RELEASED

Russian aircraft have reportedly flown directly over a US Navy vessel in the Baltic Sea in what is being described as one of the most aggressive actions in recent history.

On Monday, Russian fighter jets made 20 passes over USS Donald Cook at an altitude of 100 feet as the ship left the Polish port of Gdynia in the Baltic Sea.

According to CBS, a senior defense official said this is the second Russian provocation of this type this week.

A second incident involving two Russian KA-27 Helix helicopters and two Sukhoi Russian SU-24 jets reportedly occurred yesterday.

The helicopters apparently flew circles around the USS Donald Cook while taking pictures.  After the helicopters left the scene two Russian Su-24s repeatedly flew within 30 meters of the guided missile destroyer, according to US officials.

A Russian Kamov KA-27 Helix closely surveils the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) while the ship was operating in international waters on April 12, 2016, in the Baltic Sea. U.S. NAVY 6TH FLEET PHOTO/RELEASED
A Russian Kamov KA-27 Helix closely surveils the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) while the ship was operating in international waters on April 12, 2016, in the Baltic Sea. U.S. NAVY 6TH FLEET PHOTO/RELEASED

“They were so close they created wakes in the water,” an official said.

Sailors aboard the Donald Cook reported that the aircraft did not have any visible bombs or armaments.

Russian Su-24
A Russian Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft makes a very-low altitude pass by the USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) April 12, 2016, in the Baltic Sea near Poland. Donald Cook, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, forward deployed to Rota, Spain is conducting a routine patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. U.S. NAVY 6TH FLEET PHOTO/RELEASED

The nature of the overflight as a “simulated attack” may violate a 1973 treaty between the U.S. and Russia that specifically prohibits this type of maneuver, a defense official told Military Times.

According to the Military Times, defense officials spoke on condition of anonymity because U.S. officials have not officially disclosed the incidents.

Since then, three videos of the Russian SU-24s conducting the “simulated attack” have been released by United State European Command.

In a statement, the U.S. European Command said: “We have deep concerns about the unsafe and unprofessional Russian flight maneuvers. These actions have the potential to unnecessarily escalate tensions between countries, and could result in a miscalculation or accident that could cause serious injury or death.”

© 2016 Bright Mountain Media, Inc.

All rights reserved. The content of this webpage may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written consent of Bright Mountain Media, Inc. which may be contacted at info@brightmountainmedia.com

Author

Post navigation