Dec 14, 2017Lara Seligman | Aerospace Daily & Defense Report
Tensions are running high between the U.S. and Russia over operations in Syria after an F-22 narrowly avoided colliding with a Russian Su-25 in midair.
Two Russian Su-25s on Dec. 13 flew into coalition airspace on the east side of the Euphrates River near Abu Kamal, Syria, violating verbal agreements that the Russians would remain west of the river and the coalition would operate to the east, according to an Air Forces Central Command spokesman. Two stealthy F-22 Raptors patrolling the area immediately noticed the Su-25s, —1980s-era fighters designed to provide close-air support for ground forces—and moved to intercept them.
The F-22s released chaff and flares near the Russian aircraft, and placed multiple calls to the Russian pilots on the emergency Guard frequency asking them to leave the airspace. However, the Su-25 pilots did not immediately move to depart the area.
At one point, one Su-25 flew close enough to an F-22 that the Raptor pilot was forced to “aggressively maneuver” to avoid a midair collision, the spokesman said.
At another point, a Russian Su-35 also flew across the river, and was shadowed closely by one of the Raptor pilots.
The incident lasted approximately 40 min. before the Russian aircraft finally flew back to the west side of the river.
During and after the event, coalition leaders at the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) at Al Udeid air base, Qatar, contacted the Russians over the deconfliction phone line “to de-escalate the situation and avert a strategic miscalculation,” the spokesman said.
Although high profile, the Dec. 13 incident is not the first time the Russians have violated verbal agreements with the coalition. Since early November, the Russians have flown into U.S. and coalition airspace on the east side of the river 6-8 times per day or approximately 10% percent of Russian and Syrian flights.
“If either of us needs to cross the river for any reason, we’re supposed to first deconflict via the line,” the spokesman said. “It’s become increasingly tough for our pilots to discern whether Russian pilots’ actions are deliberate or if these are just honest mistakes.”
The coalition’s greatest concern, the spokesman stressed, is that they could shoot down a Russian aircraft because its actions are seen as a threat to air or ground forces.
“We train our aircrew to take specific actions and to make every attempt possible to de-escalate the situation wherever possible,” the spokesman said. “We are not here to fight the Russians and Syrians—our focus remains on defeating ISIS. That said, if anyone threatens coalition or friendly partner forces in the air or on the ground, we will defend them.”
U.S. pilots have observed increasingly alarming behavior for months as Islamic State militants lose ground in Iraq and Syria, officials told Aerospace DAILY during November visits to the CAOC and Al Dhafra air base, UAE. Lt. Col. “Ox,” a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor pilot and commander of the 95th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron assigned to Al Dhafra, said his pilots have had numerous close calls, with Russian aircraft frequently flying within weapons range of coalition ground troops.
The Russians fighters—primarily Su-30s, Su-35s, Su-27 Flankers and Su-17 Fitters—have not made moves to attack U.S. or coalition forces, but their proximity to the ground itself is threatening, said Ox, who requested partial anonymity to discuss sensitive operations. Russian fighters regularly fly within range of coalition ground forces for twenty or thirty minutes at a time, he noted.
“We have to use our judgment to figure out, is this somebody getting close to attack our guys? Or is this somebody that is just flying a wide pattern?” Ox said. “You don’t know if they are doing this to test us, to see what our response is, or if it’s completely innocent. That’s the call that we have to make every day.”
aviationweek.com/
An F-22 prepares to receive fuel over the Arabian Peninsula from a KC-10 Extender.
USAFTensions are running high between the U.S. and Russia over operations in Syria after an F-22 narrowly avoided colliding with a Russian Su-25 in midair.
Two Russian Su-25s on Dec. 13 flew into coalition airspace on the east side of the Euphrates River near Abu Kamal, Syria, violating verbal agreements that the Russians would remain west of the river and the coalition would operate to the east, according to an Air Forces Central Command spokesman. Two stealthy F-22 Raptors patrolling the area immediately noticed the Su-25s, —1980s-era fighters designed to provide close-air support for ground forces—and moved to intercept them.
The F-22s released chaff and flares near the Russian aircraft, and placed multiple calls to the Russian pilots on the emergency Guard frequency asking them to leave the airspace. However, the Su-25 pilots did not immediately move to depart the area.
At one point, one Su-25 flew close enough to an F-22 that the Raptor pilot was forced to “aggressively maneuver” to avoid a midair collision, the spokesman said.
At another point, a Russian Su-35 also flew across the river, and was shadowed closely by one of the Raptor pilots.
The incident lasted approximately 40 min. before the Russian aircraft finally flew back to the west side of the river.
During and after the event, coalition leaders at the Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) at Al Udeid air base, Qatar, contacted the Russians over the deconfliction phone line “to de-escalate the situation and avert a strategic miscalculation,” the spokesman said.
Although high profile, the Dec. 13 incident is not the first time the Russians have violated verbal agreements with the coalition. Since early November, the Russians have flown into U.S. and coalition airspace on the east side of the river 6-8 times per day or approximately 10% percent of Russian and Syrian flights.
“If either of us needs to cross the river for any reason, we’re supposed to first deconflict via the line,” the spokesman said. “It’s become increasingly tough for our pilots to discern whether Russian pilots’ actions are deliberate or if these are just honest mistakes.”
The coalition’s greatest concern, the spokesman stressed, is that they could shoot down a Russian aircraft because its actions are seen as a threat to air or ground forces.
“We train our aircrew to take specific actions and to make every attempt possible to de-escalate the situation wherever possible,” the spokesman said. “We are not here to fight the Russians and Syrians—our focus remains on defeating ISIS. That said, if anyone threatens coalition or friendly partner forces in the air or on the ground, we will defend them.”
U.S. pilots have observed increasingly alarming behavior for months as Islamic State militants lose ground in Iraq and Syria, officials told Aerospace DAILY during November visits to the CAOC and Al Dhafra air base, UAE. Lt. Col. “Ox,” a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor pilot and commander of the 95th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron assigned to Al Dhafra, said his pilots have had numerous close calls, with Russian aircraft frequently flying within weapons range of coalition ground troops.
The Russians fighters—primarily Su-30s, Su-35s, Su-27 Flankers and Su-17 Fitters—have not made moves to attack U.S. or coalition forces, but their proximity to the ground itself is threatening, said Ox, who requested partial anonymity to discuss sensitive operations. Russian fighters regularly fly within range of coalition ground forces for twenty or thirty minutes at a time, he noted.
“We have to use our judgment to figure out, is this somebody getting close to attack our guys? Or is this somebody that is just flying a wide pattern?” Ox said. “You don’t know if they are doing this to test us, to see what our response is, or if it’s completely innocent. That’s the call that we have to make every day.”
aviationweek.com/
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