Earlier this month, the US Air Force Central Command released footage of an unsafe and unprofessional interception conducted by a Russian Su-35 fighter jet on a US F-16 over Syria.
The video, filmed by the American aircraft using a targeting pod on April 2, 2023, shows the armed Russian jet aggressively maneuvering while interacting with the American fighter.
“The US aircraft was operating in airspace that US-Russia protocols recognize as Coalition-controlled airspace over Syria. The Russian Su-35 had not been deconflicted when it entered the airspace. This incident follows a pattern of dangerous actions by Russian pilots as they interact with US and Coalition aircraft. These aggressive actions by the Russian crew demonstrate lack of professionalism and can lead to miscalculation and unintentional escalation,” reads the official caption.
Another IR (infrared) footage released by US CENTCOM shows a Russian Su-35 that violated the Coalition Force’s airspace in Syria on April 18, 2023.
As a result of the violation, “US Air Force fighter jets took off from bases in the region and intercepted the Russian jet. During the interception, the Russian pilot unprofessionally maneuvered within 2,000 feet of the American aircraft, violating permanent deconfliction protocols.”
Source: US CENTCOM
