Categories: RussiaTroubled Areas

Russian warplanes allegedly force US destroyer away from territorial waters in Black Sea

It looks like Russian Su-24s flew over US warship in Black Sea. Again.

According to several Russian media outlets, Russian Navy Su-24 Fencer jets “forced” a U.S. Navy destroyer to head towards neutral waters after it was noticed by Russian Black Sea monitoring stations heading into Russia’s territorial waters.

Reportedly, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Ross was heading directly towards Russian waters after leaving the Romanian port of Costanta. Russian Su-24s were scrambled towards the warship.

After the close encounter with the Su-24 jets, the destroyer “then turned around and left for neutral waters,” says RT, suggesting an unlikely violation of the Russian territorial waters by the U.S. warship.

“It seems that the Americans did not forget the April 2014 incident when one Su-24 actually shut down all equipment on the new USS Donald Cook American destroyer with anti-missile system elements,” an unnamed source said to Sputnik News.

The mysterious source refers to the April 2014 incident when a Su-24 Fencer flew multiple passes at 500 feet above sea level, within 1,000 yards of the USS Donald Cook, the U.S. Navy destroyer operating in the Black Sea at that time: a behaviour that the ship commander considered “provocative and inconsistent with international agreements.”

Following the incident, speculations (fueled by propaganda) reported that the Su-24 jammed all the systems aboard USS Cook to such an extent all the onboard screens went black and 27 officers resigned as a consequence of the attack: a quite unbelievable and unlikely story.

Anyway, Russian Su-30s and Su-24s aircraft from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet launched from Novofedorvka, an airbase captured on Mar. 22, 2014, in western Crimea peninsula 70 kilometres north of Sevastopol, have conducted attack runs on NATO warships operating in the Black Sea recently.

Image credit: Andrey Zinchuv/Airforce.ru and U.S. Navy

 

About David Cenciotti
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.
David Cenciotti

David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.

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  • So a US ship is sailing in the direction of Russian national waters, never enters them, but continues to sail in international waters. Must be a slow news day.

    • More or less what happens when a Russian warplane in international airspace is shadowed by a NATO jet fighter. But in that case the media hype fueled by all the major media outlet is ok, isn't it?

      • Of course it's OK. We're the good guys and always have been. The Russians are the bad guys and always will be because that's what they want. It makes no difference to the USA one way or another what Putin's pundits care to write.

        • Just say we're the best guys so we write and hype what we damn well please. As long as we have the bigger cannons that's how it'll be. We're in the 21st century, good and evil are quickly becoming quite obsolete concepts even if they're always a bit ridiculous.
          Bigger + better cannons = best. All the rest can suck it.

      • Ummm, except this is Russian media hype, is not it? There is a difference in exercising precaution by checking on plane that can get within firing distance in a very short time and ship that sails some 20 knots per hour and allagedly approaches territorial waters. I bet that their location was nowhere near Russian waters.

  • “It seems that the Americans did not forget the April 2014 incident when one Su-24 actually shut down all equipment on the new USS Donald Cook American destroyer with anti-missile system elements,” an unnamed source said to Sputnik News."

    Uh huh.

    • Never happened

      USS Ross (DDG 71), forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on a routine patrol conducting naval operations with allies and partners in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in order to advance security and stability in the Black Sea region.

      Ross observed the routine flights of SU-24 aircraft and had no interaction while both operated in international waters. Ross continued on her mission after observing the aircraft return to base. At no time did Ross act aggressively nor did she deviate from her planned operations. The conduct of her crew has been and continues to be professional.

      The U.S. Navy operates ships in the Black Sea on a routine basis, consistent with the Montreux Convention and International Law.
      http://cne-cna-c6f.dodlive.mil/navy-statement-on-uss-ross-ddg-71-interaction-with-russian-aircraft/

      • I am quite sure that Russian anti-ship missiles had it locked on with Mach2+missiles all the time...
        What is the point of "happened or not"- it is clear any ship does not stand a chance in Black see, after Crimea has been rearmed with latest anti-ship missiles Russian planes can now fly as much as they like,shooting a single plane would mean going instantly to the bottom of the sea.
        Anyway,what are US ships doing there,10 000 miles from US coast?Let`s see Russian nuclear armed ships in Mexican gulf and how would US react!

        • when there is a natural disaster, where are the russian armed forces?? certainly not responding and rendering aid ----- last i saw, russian forces (cowardly) mask their identity in contravention to international law

          The US Navy is more powerful than literally every other navy on the planet - combined. There are only 20 aircraft carriers on the planet and no other country has more than 2 - the US has 10 of them - and whats more, the ones the US does have are roughly twice the size of other countries' carriers and they carry 3 times as many aircraft - when we park one of these in an AOR, it instantly becomes the most powerful military force in that region

          and the US has 10 of them

          yes - they are powerful weapons in time of war ---- but they are also a tremendous aid in time of need

          where is russia??

          • Wait, what is the reason for introduction of natural disasters ro this conversation? It has no connection to topic.
            And,any aircraft carrier is very vulnerable,except when US attacks much smaller army which has no power to defend itself.

          • Russia had always provided help during disasters. Japan, Asia not so long ago after the earthquake. Either you are blind or just one sided.

        • Oh look at you with your Mach 2+ missiles. The US Navy specifically designed the Aegis system to counter such threats with the family of SM-2/6, ESSM, and Phalanx.

          Oh and typical Russians throwing their "oh hur der we have nukes" around. News Flash, the US has a nuclear arsenal just as large. Deploy a nuclear weapon and you end both of our countries.

          • Yes?You should take into account that underestimating Russian army costed two most powerful forces in history complete anihilation.
            The sheer fact that US destroyer run away,shows how much they believe in AEGIS...It doesn't stand a chance against coastal rocket batteries with Mach 2+ salvos of rockets..
            And,if you are not,as it seems to me, scared to death of intercontinental missiles,why don't you try to actually change situation by alleged "superior" us force?
            You should know that ingenious russian scientist developed a way to destroy US in first attack, based on North American geology and oceans,vulcanoes etc.Don't forget,Russia is 10 times bigger.
            Luckily,in US army there are smart people who understand their limits.Russia is untouchable for you.deal with it and move to clean Detroit instead of sniffing arround Russian Crimea.

    • The adorable part is how many Russian readers actually believe this hilarious propaganda.

      • The hilarious part is how many American fanboys rush in to bash russia, everytime.

        • Hilarious part is how some Gullible Russians become void of common sense when reading their own propaganda. If the Cook was ever compromised to such a large degree, Naval procedures would recall the vessel back to home. The Cook didn't go home. The Cook made Berth at least 4 times throughout the region which was its pre-assigned schedule. There are many other holes in this story, you could sail the USS Nimitz through it. Russian/Soviet media has never been very thorough liars.

        • We do believe that US gamble in Ukraine will fail. And the puppet monsters in Kiev leading by State Department together with their instructors and generals from Pentagon will get what they deserve. Dont forget you yanks that Ukraine is the part of Russia. And anyone who will come to us with weapon will retreat ( remember Napoleon and Hitler).Read history!

          • Sergey, you only beat France because of your inhospitable environment as they were wearing Spring uniform, entering your "winter" so they died of minus temperatures! With the added cherry of starvation, because you burned all your farms and agricultural land!

            Hitler - Well he took Moscow down and nearly took Stalingrad also whilst most of the Western front of Russia had been invaded.

      • adorable is how many americans thing they are the best and smartest on world )) maybe cause this half world hate USA. where is propaganda? like nuclear weapons on Iraq, or like "strong US dolar" . be happy, and maybe russians continue using dolar for gas and oil bussines, if not, paper country like USA kaput ))))) stay in you home, first make clean you home, and only after this go out and teach all world how to live......im from europe, and im not need you here, nobody not need you, 500 years ago world exist even without americans. Country with no history have not rules teach all world......bye.. eat you hamburger, live ass alone, and everybody will be living in peace.......

        we not hate anybody, who come here like friends, but we hate all ocupants, and USA try ucupied all world. Maybe they just need back to school and find whats happening with all ocupants in europe , and russians..... Usa just scare, cause Putin try do something for russian people, they scare cause the have no more monopol for freedom ....

      • Really? I suppose you wouldn't mind if Russia started regularly patrolling the Caribbean and building a 'missile defense system' with Cuba & Venezuela to protect against 'rogue states'... like America perhaps.

        It's a pretty bloody stupid idea for any US warship to trap itself in the Black Sea, if it sparked a confrontation it wouldn't last 5 minutes before becoming a shipwreck. I would be surprised if the Russian navy didn't have a submarine shadowing it right now.

      • Yes,indeed your ship helps in wonderful practice exercises for Russian army,much better and cheaper then paying for ones own ship to play the role of enemy

    • And Russia has no business in Crimea. The difference is the Black Sea is international waters. Crimea, not so much.

      Whoops.

      • Crimea IS Russia,hello!?And it will stay Russia for ever by Russian law,which is enforced by Russian state and Russian Armed forces.
        Anyone who tries to mess with Crimea,or any other sovereign part of Russian Federation and reaction will be military and,in necessary, nuclear annihilation of force who tries.
        Wake up, you are not living alone on this planet, what one says has importance only where they can enforce it.
        Legally, Crimea was illegally ceded to Ukraine without asking any single citizen of Soviet Union by Ukrainian leader of USSR,Hrushev.
        This has been straighten up and that`s it.

          • No,it is not Ukraine and it will never again be.Come to visit,you will find population happy to be in Russia,Russia policemen,laws,money,licence plates on cars..I was there recently,is is dumb to claim otherwise.

        • Yeah, except for the fact that it belongs to the Ukraine.

          Christ you're a horrendous troll. STFU

          • I am interested how does this"belonging "to Ukraine manifest in reality?
            There is no element of Ukrainian state in Crimea and its people hate Ukraine

        • Russia's annexation of Crimea is as despicable, dishonorable and shameful as the Russian betrayal of Ukraine by deliberate violation of the Budapest Memorandum. Russia cannot be trusted to observe international treaties. Russia has no honor, no credibility and no future under Putin.

      • I questioned Russia's legitimacy in Crimea at first too, but you cannot deny the people their are quite happy being Russian citizens now. Even without the questionable referendum they had, it's still pretty clear Crimea is going to stay Russian.

        • ...and Russia is going to stay under sanctions. They'll probably strike a deal in twenty years.

    • USS Ross (DDG 71), forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on a routine patrol conducting naval operations with allies and partners in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in order to advance security and stability in the Black Sea region.

      Ross observed the routine flights of SU-24 aircraft and had no interaction while both operated in international waters. Ross continued on her mission after observing the aircraft return to base. At no time did Ross act aggressively nor did she deviate from her planned operations. The conduct of her crew has been and continues to be professional.

      The U.S. Navy operates ships in the Black Sea on a routine basis, consistent with the Montreux Convention and International Law. http://cne-cna-c6f.dodlive.mil/navy-statement-on-uss-ross-ddg-71-interaction-with-russian-aircraft/

  • Russian warplanes allegedly force US destroyer away from territorial waters in Black Sea, ya, right; in your dreams Putan.

  • "According to several Russian media outlets". "Reported that the Su-24 jammed all the systems aboard USS Cook to such an extent all the onboard screens went black and 27 officers resigned as a consequence of the attack".

    The Russians come up with the most laughable bullshit in the history of media. LOL

    • no way - the Iranians have that prize...blowing up a static barge is the same as going after an American aircraft carrier

  • Shutting down all systems and making 27 officers resign sounds like some bullcrap straight out of the Kremlin.

    • Apparently, this is just a propaganda not by Kremlin,but some of less trusted sensationalist newspapers in Moscow.Yet, the event did happen, but Su-24 flew nearby "Donald Cook" only after the ship has been targeted by P-800 Onyx missiles from the Crimean shore.
      As these missiles fly Mach 2+ and can reach Dardanele (channel that links Black sea with Mediterranean sea) US ship realizing they are hugely outgunned and outnumbered made a sharp turn back to the nearest friendly port.
      It was reckless from US navy at the first place to try sailing towards Crimea in that political situation, it had to be stopped one way or another.
      This has been officially revealed by president of Russian Federation in a documentary made to commemorate one year of return of Crimean peninsula to its motherland,Russia.He also stated that P-800 was, instead of being covered, made clearly visible from any satellites, so US would get the message.
      On the question from journalist about Su-24 fly-byes, "Did you know about it and authorized it" he responded "No, I was not informed, military wanted to show off" (he used another expression difficult to translate "they started hooligan-ing",a "verb" which has a positive note in Russian)

      • The ship wouldn't make a sharp turn just because it sees a anti-ship battery. We sail ships in the Persian Gulf, South China Sea, and everywhere else there are threats. Bunch of BS on your part thinking that's why it left.

  • “It seems that the Americans did not forget the April 2014 incident when one Su-24 actually shut down all equipment on the new USS Donald Cook American destroyer"

    ....it's not hard to forget something that never happened

  • Yep, as others have stated here quite nicely the comments quoted are total and complete bulls*$# which is the norm from RT which should be considered the Russian equivalent of the Weekly World News. Next up, Russian jets intercept and drive away space alien flying saucers.

    • You would not believe. but on the other side often NY times, BBC and CNN sound the same,just saying nonsense without any connection with real situation which I can see with my own eyes on the ground...I guess Rt is at least as good or as bad

        • Whar,RT does!?It was Russians that liberated Auschwitz, while US did nothing to stop the genocide, even if they had all details by 1943.There is no Holocaust denial in Russia

          • None of the Allied countries (this includes Russia) did anything to "stop it". Why, because nobody could. What were we supposed to do? Drop our airborne forces deep into eastern Germany and Poland so they could be massacred by mechanized divisions? Russia could have done the same. Congrats, the Red Army liberated Auschwitz. Want a medal? The British liberated Bergen-Belsen and the US liberated Buchenwald, Dachau, Mauthausen.

            Why don't you do some research into how many concentration camp survivors died AFTER liberation because the ridiculous Red Army wasn't smart enough to quarantine them and carefully nurse them back to health. No the Red Army just opened the gates and let them freely eat as much as they liked. Something just as deadly as a bullet for people who have been almost starved to death.

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