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| Russian fighter jet ‘released missile’ near RAF plane due to malfunction, MPs hear | Russian fighter jet ‘released missile’ near RAF plane due to malfunction, MPs hear |
| (7 months later) | |
| Ben Wallace explains incident that happened in international airspace above Black Sea on 29 September | Ben Wallace explains incident that happened in international airspace above Black Sea on 29 September |
| A Russian fighter jet “released a missile” in the vicinity of a British aircraft in international airspace over the Black Sea because of a technical malfunction, the UK defence secretary, Ben Wallace, has revealed. | A Russian fighter jet “released a missile” in the vicinity of a British aircraft in international airspace over the Black Sea because of a technical malfunction, the UK defence secretary, Ben Wallace, has revealed. |
| “We are incredibly lucky that the episode did not become worse,” said Wallace. He also accused Russia of sometimes acting recklessly by flying as close as 15ft (4.6 metres) to Nato aircraft. | “We are incredibly lucky that the episode did not become worse,” said Wallace. He also accused Russia of sometimes acting recklessly by flying as close as 15ft (4.6 metres) to Nato aircraft. |
| The episode on 29 September has prompted Wallace to ensure that routine UK surveillance flights over the Black Sea, in place since 2019, were now escorted by armed aircraft. | The episode on 29 September has prompted Wallace to ensure that routine UK surveillance flights over the Black Sea, in place since 2019, were now escorted by armed aircraft. |
| He told the Commons the incident occurred in “international airspace”, adding that an “unarmed RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint” plane was “interacted with” by two Russian SU-27s, one of which “released a missile in the vicinity of the RAF Rivet Joint beyond visual range”. | He told the Commons the incident occurred in “international airspace”, adding that an “unarmed RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint” plane was “interacted with” by two Russian SU-27s, one of which “released a missile in the vicinity of the RAF Rivet Joint beyond visual range”. |
| He said: “It is not unusual for aircraft to be shadowed and this day was no different. During that interaction however, it transpired that one of the SU-27 aircraft released a missile in the vicinity of the RAF Rivet Joint beyond visual range. | He said: “It is not unusual for aircraft to be shadowed and this day was no different. During that interaction however, it transpired that one of the SU-27 aircraft released a missile in the vicinity of the RAF Rivet Joint beyond visual range. |
| “The total time of the interaction between the Russian aircraft and the Rivet Joint was approximately 90 minutes. The patrol completed and the aircraft returned to base.” | “The total time of the interaction between the Russian aircraft and the Rivet Joint was approximately 90 minutes. The patrol completed and the aircraft returned to base.” |
| Wallace told the Commons that Russia had blamed the missile release on a “technical malfunction”. | Wallace told the Commons that Russia had blamed the missile release on a “technical malfunction”. |
| “In light of this potentially dangerous engagement, I have communicated my concerns directly to my Russian counterpart, defence minister [Sergei] Shoigu, and the chief of defence staff in Moscow.” | “In light of this potentially dangerous engagement, I have communicated my concerns directly to my Russian counterpart, defence minister [Sergei] Shoigu, and the chief of defence staff in Moscow.” |
| Wallace added: “In my letter I made clear the aircraft was unarmed, in international airspace, and following a pre-notified flight path. I felt it was prudent to suspend these patrols until a response was received by the Russian state. | Wallace added: “In my letter I made clear the aircraft was unarmed, in international airspace, and following a pre-notified flight path. I felt it was prudent to suspend these patrols until a response was received by the Russian state. |
| “The reply by the Russian minister of defence on 10 October stated they have conducted an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and stated it was a technical malfunction of the SU-27 fighter. | “The reply by the Russian minister of defence on 10 October stated they have conducted an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and stated it was a technical malfunction of the SU-27 fighter. |
| “They also acknowledge that the incident took place in international airspace.” | “They also acknowledge that the incident took place in international airspace.” |
| He said he had also been in touch with his Turkish counterparts over the episode, saying Turkey had offered all the assistance the UK required. | He said he had also been in touch with his Turkish counterparts over the episode, saying Turkey had offered all the assistance the UK required. |
| “We do not consider this as a deliberate escalation by Russia. Our analysis is this was a malfunction, but it a reminder of quite how dangerous things can be when you choose to use your fighters in the manner the Russians have done over many periods of time,” Wallace said. | “We do not consider this as a deliberate escalation by Russia. Our analysis is this was a malfunction, but it a reminder of quite how dangerous things can be when you choose to use your fighters in the manner the Russians have done over many periods of time,” Wallace said. |
| He added: “While this was obviously the release of a weapon, we have seen very very close flying next to US, Nato and UK assets over the last few years.”. | He added: “While this was obviously the release of a weapon, we have seen very very close flying next to US, Nato and UK assets over the last few years.”. |
| In one event, he said, a Russian fighter went within 15ft of a Nato aircraft. “That is reckless, unnecessary and put at risk many people’s lives; we are incredibly lucky it did not become worse.” | In one event, he said, a Russian fighter went within 15ft of a Nato aircraft. “That is reckless, unnecessary and put at risk many people’s lives; we are incredibly lucky it did not become worse.” |
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| Despite the war in Ukraine, “it is possible to communicate with the Russian military defence when we need to”, said Wallace, adding that there was a constant line of communication available, but that the episode showed the UK was walking a tightrope in which the right calibration was critical. | Despite the war in Ukraine, “it is possible to communicate with the Russian military defence when we need to”, said Wallace, adding that there was a constant line of communication available, but that the episode showed the UK was walking a tightrope in which the right calibration was critical. |
| Wallace said the west was dealing with a Russian leadership “not beyond making the wrong calculation or believing the rules” did not apply to them. | Wallace said the west was dealing with a Russian leadership “not beyond making the wrong calculation or believing the rules” did not apply to them. |
| Wallace also said he had travelled to Washington for urgent consultations this week to make sure all western nations understood “our planning processes in the event of a whole range of things”, a phrase that, without directly mentioning the possible Russian use of nuclear weapons, underscored British concern that Vladimir Putin may act rashly as his forces are pushed back. | Wallace also said he had travelled to Washington for urgent consultations this week to make sure all western nations understood “our planning processes in the event of a whole range of things”, a phrase that, without directly mentioning the possible Russian use of nuclear weapons, underscored British concern that Vladimir Putin may act rashly as his forces are pushed back. |
| Wallace said the visit had become necessary after the appointment of Sergei Surovikin as Russia’s new commander in the war; Putin’s recent speech on Moscow’s illegal annexation of eastern Ukraine; and “the success of Ukraine on the battlefield and what it might mean for President Putin and his actions and what he might do next”. | Wallace said the visit had become necessary after the appointment of Sergei Surovikin as Russia’s new commander in the war; Putin’s recent speech on Moscow’s illegal annexation of eastern Ukraine; and “the success of Ukraine on the battlefield and what it might mean for President Putin and his actions and what he might do next”. |
| The British defence minister added that he had noticed the EU was making more hawkish noises on the possibility of Russia breaking the nuclear taboo. | The British defence minister added that he had noticed the EU was making more hawkish noises on the possibility of Russia breaking the nuclear taboo. |
| He also urged people to be reassured by the visit to the Pentagon and the national security council. He said: “I don’t think people should be alarmed by it … I would hope they would take comfort that my priority is, if necessary, getting on a plane to go and do that.” | He also urged people to be reassured by the visit to the Pentagon and the national security council. He said: “I don’t think people should be alarmed by it … I would hope they would take comfort that my priority is, if necessary, getting on a plane to go and do that.” |
| Luke Pollard, the shadow defence minister, welcomed the Russian admission that the British aircraft had been in international airspace, and insisted the UK had to remain unwavering in its support for the Ukrainian struggle. | Luke Pollard, the shadow defence minister, welcomed the Russian admission that the British aircraft had been in international airspace, and insisted the UK had to remain unwavering in its support for the Ukrainian struggle. |