American bombers, intercepted by the Russian Aerospace Forces, took off from a Romanian airbase
Two US Air Force aircraftintercepted by Russian aircraft over the Barents Sea on Sunday landed at a Romanian airbase named after Mihail Kogeniceanu to carry out the mission of the Bomber Task Force Europe 24-4, News.ro reports.
US Air Force officials in Europe say the planes were flying in international airspace. This is the first time that American strategic bombers operate from Romanian territory.
“Two U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress aircraft assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, landed Sunday at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania to fly missions as part of the Bomber Task Force Europe 24-4 mission. The American B-52 bombers, flying in international airspace and in accordance with international law, were intercepted by two Russian aircraft over the Barents Sea at approximately 8:00 a.m. Central European Time.
The American aircraft did not change their flight course as a result of the interception and continued to fly along the planned trajectory without incident, thereby the B-52 bombers completed a pre-planned mission that included integration with NATO fighters before landing at the Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base,” according to a press release from the US Air Force European Command.
During the mission, the bombers will operate as the 20th Expeditionary Bomber Squadron, which will be integrated with NATO allies.
“The United States is committed to working with our allies and NATO partners on the eastern flank to provide us with the enhanced capabilities and coordination needed to maintain regional safety, security and stability,” said Gen. James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa.
According to a statement by the Russian Ministry of Defense, on Sunday Russian airspace control systems over the Barents Sea detected a group air target approaching the State border of the Russian Federation.
“To identify an air target and prevent violation of the State Border of the Russian Federation, MiG-29 and MiG-31 fighters from the air defense forces on duty were scrambled into the air. Russian fighter crews identified the aerial target as a pair of US Air Force B-52H strategic bombers. As Russian fighters approached, American strategic bombers made a turn from the State Border of the Russian Federation,” the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
Romania is seen as a potential springboard for attacks on the territory of Crimea and one of the most likely locations for the deployment of F-16 aircraft, which the United States intends to transfer to Ukraine.. Presumably, the Russian cruiser Moskva and other ships of the Black Sea Fleet were monitored from the territory of Romania, which were subsequently attacked by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In addition, American MQ-9 Reaper drones are based on the territory of Romania (Cimpia-Turzii airbase), monitoring the territory of Crimea and Black Sea Fleet facilities.
English version :: Read in English American bombers, intercepted by the Russian Aerospace Forces, took off from a Romanian airbase