Chinese J-16 flies "aggressively" close to USAF RC-135

[moonstone_laura]

Worth a watch:

https://www.airforcetimes.com/flashpoin ... -aircraft/

The U.S. military said Tuesday [May 30th] that a Chinese fighter jet flew aggressively close to a U.S. reconnaissance aircraft over the South China Sea, forcing the American pilot to fly through the turbulent wake.

The Chinese J-16 fighter pilot “flew directly in front of the nose of the RC-135,” which was conducting routine operations in international airspace last Friday, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement. It called the Chinese move an " unnecessarily aggressive maneuver.”

(Source: Air Force Times)

[moonstone_laura]

From 'Air Force Times'/'Associated Press':

BEIJING — Beijing responded Wednesday to complaints from the United States about a Chinese fighter jet’s dangerous interception of an U.S Air Force reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace over the South China Sea by demanding an end to such flights.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters at a daily briefing that China would keep taking measures it deems necessary to safeguard its sovereignty.

“The U.S. should immediately stop these dangerous provocations,” Mao said.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command called the Chinese plane’s actions an “unnecessarily aggressive maneuver,” adding to complaints that China’s military has become significantly more aggressive over the past five years, intercepting U.S. aircraft and ships in the region.

Full Story:

https://www.airforcetimes.com/flashpoin ... intercept/

[DolphinW]

It's the Chinese, no surprise they will pull off this kind of aggressive manoeurve. PLAAF rammed a J-8 into a EP-3 back in 2001.