Russian MiG-31 and Su-35 fighter jets intercepted U.S. Air Force B-1B strategic bombers over the Bering Sea and escorted the planes until they turned away from the Russian border, the National Defense Control Center told Thursday.
According to the military, on October 21, Russian radars detected two B-1B bombers along with a refueling tanker aircraft operating over the neutral waters of the Bering Sea.
“MiG-31 interceptors and Su-35 fighters from the Air Defense Forces on duty in the Eastern Military District escorted two U.S. Air Force B-1B strategic bombers over the Bering Sea,” the ministry wrote in a Russian-language caption that accompanied footage of the intercept on YouTube.
After the US planes turned away from the Russian border, the Russian plane returned to its home base, the center said, adding that the Russian border was not violated during the incident.
The entire flight of the three Russian fighters proceeded in strict compliance with the international rules of using the airspace, the National Defense Control Center said.