Russia scrambles Su-27 fighter jet to intercept US B-52 strategic bomber over Baltic Sea

Russia scrambled a Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jet today to intercept a US B-52 strategic bomber which it said was flying close to its border over the Baltic Sea, Russia's Defence Ministry said.

Russian air defence systems detected the bomber at around 1000 Moscow time as it was flying over neutral waters parallel to the Russian border, the ministry said in a statement.

"The Russian Su-27 crew, having approached at a safe distance, identified the aircraft as an American B-52 strategic bomber and escorted it" until such time as it changed course and flew away from the border area, the ministry said.

Russia said the Su-27 had been scrambled from its Baltic Fleet air defence unit which is based in Kaliningrad.

The B-52 "Stratofortress," a long-range nuclear-capable bomber, is one of the most recognisable symbols of the Cold War and entered service in the 1950s.

In another sign of Moscow's unease over NATO's proximity to its borders, Russia also scrambled a MiG-31 jet fighter later on Tuesday to intercept a Norwegian patrol plane over the Barents Sea. Russia's Defence Ministry identified the plane as a P-3 Orion anti-submarine aircraft.

The Defence Ministry said the Norwegian plane had flown close to Russia's state border with its transponders switched off.

The Norwegian military confirmed the encounter and said it was "normal".

Also read:

US says Chinese Sukhoi-30 jets intercepted American radiation-sniffing plane

China in touch with Russia over India's NSG bid but no change in stance

Russia to supply S-400 missile system to India: Why Pakistan, China should worry

China says India-Singapore South China Sea drills 'should not hurt interests of other countries'

China installs rocket launchers on disputed South China Sea island, says report

Why the world is worried about this 'unstoppable' hypersonic Russian missile