The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on 21 March that two Russian Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets have forced a US B-52 bomber to move away from the Russian border.
The MoD reported that “the B-52 was flying over international waters of the Baltic Sea. Russia’s air space control means identified it far away from the border and put it under observation.”
The statement also said that the two Su-27 jets of the air defence forces were ordered to identify and escort the aircraft. After the B-52H changed course to move away from the Russian state border the Su-27 fighters returned to base.
In a separate incident, it was reported that a US B-52 bomber flew near the Russian Baltic Fleet base in Kaliningrad on 15 March.
NATO reported 14 March that the U.S. Air Force has sent six B-52 long-range bombers to the United Kingdom for a series of training activities over Europe. The aircraft and over 450 airmen arrived at Royal Air Force base Fairford on 14 March from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.
