Two Russian warplanes engaged in repeated and dangerously close intercepts of an unarmed Royal Air Force (RAF) spy plane over the Black Sea last month, the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has stated.

The incident involved a Russian Su-35 fighter approaching the RAF's RC-135W Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft. The fighter came close enough to trigger the Rivet Joint's emergency systems, resulting in the temporary disabling of its autopilot. Subsequently, a Russian Su-27 jet performed six passes in front of the RAF plane, closing to within six meters (19 feet) of its nose.

Defence Secretary John Healey condemned the actions, calling them "dangerous and unacceptable behaviour by Russian pilots, towards an unarmed aircraft operating in international airspace." He emphasized that these maneuvers create a "serious risk of accidents and potential escalation." The MoD described the event as the most dangerous Russian action since 2022, when a Russian pilot fired a missile at a Rivet Joint over the same sea.

The MoD reported that the Rivet Joint was undertaking a routine international flight intended to bolster the security of NATO's eastern flank. Healey affirmed that the incident would "not deter the UK's commitment to defend Nato, our allies and our interests from Russian aggression."

Officials from the MoD and the Foreign Office have formally requested the Russian embassy to condemn the airborne interceptions. The MoD noted that these recent encounters occur amidst a backdrop of heightened Russian aggression in the region, citing recent Russian submarine activity near critical underwater British infrastructure in the North Sea.

This event echoes a similar incident in September 2022, where a Russian pilot allegedly fired two missiles at an RAF Rivet Joint over the Black Sea. At the time, Russia claimed the action was due to a technical malfunction, an explanation the MoD publicly accepted. However, three senior Western defence sources later informed the BBC that the Russian pilot had fired the missile following an ambiguous command from a Russian ground station.

The RAF's RC-135W Rivet Joint, operated by No. 51 Squadron, typically operates from a base in Lincolnshire. These aircraft are equipped with advanced sensors designed for intelligence gathering and surveillance missions.

Both the MoD and the Foreign Office have contacted the Russian embassy regarding the incident. The UK government has stressed the importance of safe and professional conduct in international airspace and the need to avoid actions that could lead to unintended conflict or escalation. The specific implications for future UK-Russia military interactions remain under observation.