Russian fighter jet warns off NATO aircraft by displaying its weapons after the F-16 'buzzed' plane carrying Moscow defence minister over Baltic Sea
- Plane carrying Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu was reportedly 'buzzed'
- But Sukhoi-27 soon arrived to warn it off - by tilting wings and showing weapons
- Comes as Sweden summons Russian ambassador today over similar incident
- Dramatic footage has been released which appears to show the encounter
A Russian fighter jet chased off a NATO aircraft after it buzzed a plane carrying defence minister Sergei Shoigu over the Baltic Sea, Russian news agencies have said.
The F-16 had tried to approach the aircraft carrying the defence minister even though it was flying over neutral waters, agencies said today, before a Russian Sukhoi-27 turned up to warn it off.
Shoigu was reported to be en route to the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad for a meeting to discuss how well Russia's western flank was defended.
In dramatic footage appearing to show the incident unfolding, a Sukhoi-27 can be seen flying between an F-16 and another plane before tilting its wings. The F-16 then seems to fly off.
Dramatic footage captured the moment a a Russian fighter jet (left) chased off a NATO aircraft after it buzzed a plane carrying defence minister Sergei Shoigu over the Baltic Sea
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In the video said to have been taken of the incident, the F-16 (pictured right) can be seen being chased off by the Sukhoi-27 (left)
Pictured: The F-16 coming very close to the plane containing defence minister Sergei Shoigu
The report comes as Sweden summoned Russia's ambassador today after a fighter jet flew unusually close to a Swedish reconnaissance plane in international airspace above the Baltic Sea, a further sign of rising military tensions in the region.
Swedish Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist slammed Russia as 'unprofessional' and urged Moscow to avoid incidents like this again.
During the incident involving the Russian defence minister, it was reported that the Russian jet sent to warn off the NATO fighter inserted itself between Shoigu's plane and the NATO fighter and tilted its wings from side to side to show the weapons it was carrying.
After that, agencies said the F-16 left the area.
Pictured: A map showing the possible route the defence minister's plane could freely take over the Baltic Sea
Recently the Baltic Sea has become an area of rising tensions between Moscow and NATO.
The Swedish incident - which occurred on Monday - prompted a strong reaction from Sweden's government.
The Swedish Armed Forces said in a statement that it was not unusual for Russian planes to approach and identify Swedish surveillance missions.
'This time, however, the Russian aircraft behaved in such a way that it has to be considered noteworthy, among other things the distance between the aircraft was at times very short,' it said.
Pictured: Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, left, with President Vladimir Putin
Earlier this month, Russia scrambled a fighter jet to intercept a nuclear-capable US B-52 strategic bomber it said was flying over the Baltic near its border, in an incident that had echoes of the Cold War.
The Kremlin referred questions about the latest incident to the defence ministry, which did not immediately comment.
It has said in the past that all Russian flights over the Baltic are conducted in strict accordance with international law.
Sukhoi-27
The Russian fighter jet reportedly lifted its wings to show the weapons it was carrying to the NATO fighter. Pictured: Stock images of a Sukhoi-27 jet, left, and an F-16, right
- Weapons: Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-301 autocannon capable of firing 1,800 high explosive or armour piercing rounds per minute and Vympel R-73 and Vympel R-27 air-to-air missiles - the latter capable of flying 80 miles at mach 4.5 to reach its target
- Hardpoints (weapons slots): 10
- Top speed: 1,320mph
- Country of origin: Russia
- First built: 1982
- Basic cost: $30m
- Manufacturer: Sukhoi
- Number in service: 809
- Used by: Several forces, including the air forces of Russia, China, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ukraine, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Vietnam and Angola
F-16
Pictured: The American-made F-16, which was first produced in 1973
- Weapons: M61 Vulcan Gatling gun capable of firing 6,600 rounds of 20mm calibre bullets per minute, AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles capable of hitting targets up to 111 miles away and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles capable of hitting targets 22 miles away using infrared homing
- Hardpoints: 9
- Top speed: 1553mph
- Country of origin: USA
- First built: 1973
- Basic cost: Between $14.6 and $18.8m
- Manufacturer: General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin)
- Number in service: 4,537
- Used by: 26 forces, including the air forces of the USA, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Pakistan and Chile
The incident occurred a day after the Russian defence ministry said an RC-135 US reconnaissance plane had swerved dangerously in the proximity of a Russian fighter jet over the Baltic.
The ministry said at the same time that another RC-135 had been intercepted by a Russian jet in the same area.
The Pentagon had a different version of events.
Apparently referring to the same episode, Pentagon spokesman Navy Captain Jeff Davis said the U.S. aircraft 'did nothing to provoke this behaviour.'
The Pentagon said the intercept had been unsafe and accused the Russian pilot of flying too fast and having 'poor control' over his SU-27 fighter jet.
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