Fighter
jets were scrambled from the USS Ronald Reagan after two Russian planes
came within one nautical mile of the aircraft carrier.
Russian naval
reconnaissance planes flew past the U.S. warship as it sailed in
international waters to the east of the Korean Peninsula. 7th Fleet
officials told the press that two Tupolev Tu-142 Bear aircraft were as
low as 500 feet above the Reagan, writes Erik Slavin for Stars and Stripes.
Russian aircraft fly close to U.S. aircraft carrier
A number of incidents involving Russian aircraft have
occurred of late, but this latest is perhaps the most serious. Four
F/A-18 Super Hornets were scrambled from the flight deck of the Ronald
Reagan in response, said 7th Fleet spokeswoman Lt. Lauren Cole.
The Ronald Reagan was in the area on scheduled maneuvers with South Korean navy ships. After the presence of the Russian planes
was detected, U.S. officials attempted to make radio contact but
received no reply. A U.S. escort ship later followed the planes after
they withdrew.
Officials at the Russian Embassy in Seoul could not
be reached for comment on Thursday. This is far from the first time that
Russian aircraft have engaged in provocative actions. Several times in
the past 12 months Russian planes have entered other countries’ airspace
or flown close to U.S. and NATO ships.
Russian aviation practices called into question on multiple occasions
A Russian SU-24 fighter jet made 12 passes over the
USS Donald Cook in April, and the Pentagon specified that they were
“close-range, low-altitude” flights. The ship was in international
waters in the Black Sea near Romania at the time. According to NATO
officials Russian fighter planes violated Turkish airspace on several
occasions in September.
Japan has also accused Russia of violating the airspace over the northern island of Hokkaido. The incidents have called Russian navy aircraft safety practices into serious doubt.
According to U.S. Navy officials, Washington
understands that Russia and any other nation has the right to operate
where international law allows. “We are advocates of any country being
able to operate within international norms,” Cole said. “We do caveat
that with the fact that all of these operations need to be conducted in
accordance with the rights and regulations of other countries, and
within a safe manner.”
Lack of radio contact violates good aviation practice
The USS Ronald Reagan functions as a floating
airport, boasting an air traffic control center to coordinate with
planes. During flight operations a carrier control zone is implemented,
covering a 5-mile radius and up to 2,500 feet in altitude.
There was no confirmation from Navy officials whether
flight operations were underway when the Russian planes flew
past. “Even if we don’t have flight operations ongoing, we are still
very cognizant of what is going on in the airspace, within a good
distance,” Cole said.
In general aviation practice two-way communication is
expected when an aircraft comes within a certain distance. This is the
case even at commercial airports, according to international aviation
guidelines.
The Russian flyby was not the only incident for the U.S. Navy
in Asia this week. USS Lassen provoked protests from China after it
sailed within a 12-nautical-mile territorial zone imposed by China
around a reef claimed by Beijing in the South China Sea.
Busy period for U.S. Navy in Asia-Pacific region
According to the U.S. the maneuver was part of a
demonstration of “freedom of navigation” because the waters are
international and accessible by any nation. For its part China claimed
that the move presented a violation of its “indisputable sovereignty.”
Subi Reef is believed to be completely submerged in
its natural state, although China has reclaimed the land from the sea.
Subi is one of a number of reefs that have been built on by Beijing as
it attempts to strengthen its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Under international law territorial claims cannot be
generated by submerged objects, although China has repeatedly attempted
to claim sovereignty over large swathes of the South China Sea. The
issue has led to increased tensions in the region due to competing
claims from a number of countries including China, Vietnam, the
Philippines and Malaysia.
The U.S. has intervened in an attempt to maintain
freedom of navigation in the vital shipping lanes. The South China Sea
also boasts rich fishing grounds, and there is speculation that oil and
gas fields may also be located in the area.
As China grows increasingly assertive in the region,
the U.S. has stepped in to support the claims of its regional allies.
The Obama administration has little to lose by taking a tough stance on
the issue given criticism at home for its lack of action in the face of Chinese provocation.
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