{"id":39902,"date":"2019-08-15T06:21:46","date_gmt":"2019-08-15T04:21:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/?p=39902"},"modified":"2022-02-20T19:24:19","modified_gmt":"2022-02-20T18:24:19","slug":"baltic-the-maneuver-of-the-spanish-ef-18-that-left-the-russian-su-27-fighter-at-a-disadvantage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outono.net\/elentir\/2019\/08\/15\/baltic-the-maneuver-of-the-spanish-ef-18-that-left-the-russian-su-27-fighter-at-a-disadvantage\/","title":{"rendered":"Baltic: the maneuver of the Spanish EF-18 that left the Russian Su-27 fighter at a disadvantage"},"content":{"rendered":"

The incident known this tuesday between a Spanish EF-18 and two Russian Su-27 fighters<\/a> over the Baltic Sea was explained yesterday by the journalist Oana Lungescu, a NATO spokesman.<\/p>\n

Confrontation between a Spanish EF-18M and two Russian Su-27 fighters over the Baltic Sea<\/a><\/rel>
\nThis is a Scramble alert: Two USAF F-15 intercept two Russian Su-30 on the Baltic Sea<\/a><\/rel><\/p>\n

According to NATO there were two Spanish fighters that intercepted the Russians<\/big><\/p>\n

In statements published yesterday by Radio Free Europe<\/a>, Lungescu confirmed that the incident occurred on August 13, that is, on the same day that the Russian Ministry of Defense reported it to the media. The intercepted aircraft were a Tupolev Tu-214 transport airplane<\/strong>, which was the plane in which Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was traveling, and two Sukhoi Su-27 \"Flanker\" fighters.<\/strong> The interception mission was carried out by two EF-18M of 12th Wing<\/strong> of the Spanish Air Force (currently deployed at the \u0160iauliai air base, Lithuania, on a Baltic Air Police mission), and not one, as the information published by the Russian Government.<\/strong><\/p>\n

No flight plan, with transponders off and without responding to air traffic control<\/big><\/p>\n

Lungescu was clear in giving the key to the mission of Spanish planes: \"The Tu-214 had a valid flight plan. However, the two escorting Su-27 flew without a flight plan, their transponders were switched off, and they did not communicate to air traffic control.<\/strong>\"<\/em> In addition, Lungescu noted that Russian planes were flying \"over the Baltic Sea near NATO airspace,\"<\/em> so that Spanish fighters were alerted, \"as is routine,\" to identify the planes that flew without providing any identification and without informing about your destiny. Carrying transponders off is a great irresponsibility.<\/strong> These devices are mandatory in the European Union airspace.<\/a> Among other things, they let you know if a plane has been hijacked.<\/p>\n

A very frequent irresponsibility on Russian flights in the area<\/big> <\/p>\n

Russian airplanes that fly to Kalinigrado often do so with the transponders turned off<\/a>, without flight plans and without maintaining any communication with the air traffic control agencies in the area, a behavior that some sources interpret as a provocation to NATO<\/a>, while others warn that in this way the Russians test NATO air defense systems<\/a>, obtaining, for example, the response times of the fighters upon receiving a Scramble alert. These incidents have been increasing after the crisis caused by the Russian annexation of Crimea (Ukraine) in 2014. In 2015 there were 410 interceptions of Russian aircraft and in 2016 there were 780.<\/a><\/p>\n

NATO criticizes the \"insecure maneuver\" by one of the Su-27<\/big> <\/p>\n

On the incident between the two Spanish EF-18s and the two Russian Su-27s, Lungescu added: \"They monitored the planes at a safe distance, but one of the Russian fighters conducted an unsafe maneuver, cutting into the flight path of one of the NATO jets<\/strong>.\" This corresponds to what the video of the incident published by Russia showed, in which one of the EF-18 is seen turning sharply to avoid a collision with a Su-27 that cut its route<\/strong> (from the second 0: 16):<\/p>\n