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Pictures: US Navy Destroyer USS Donald Cook Encounters Aggressive Russian Su-24 Attack Aircraft.
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Naval Forces News - USA |
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Pictures:
US Navy Destroyer USS Donald Cook Encounters Aggressive Russian Su-24
Attack Aircraft |
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A
United States Navy destroyer operating in international waters in the
Baltic Sea experienced several close interactions by Russian aircraft
April 11 and 12. USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), an Arleigh
Burke Flight II destroyer, encountered multiple, aggressive
flight maneuvers by Russian aircraft that were performed within close
proximity of the ship. |
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 BALTIC SEA (April 12, 2016) A Russian Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft makes a very low altitude pass by USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) April 12, 2016. Donald Cook, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer forward deployed to Rota, Spain, is conducting a routine patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. (U.S. Navy photo/Released) |
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On
April 11, Donald Cook was conducting deck landing drills with an allied
military helicopter when two Russian
SU-24 jets made numerous close-range and low altitude passes
at approximately 3 p.m. local. One of the passes, which occurred while
the allied helicopter was refueling on the deck of Donald Cook, was
deemed unsafe by the ship's commanding officer. As a safety precaution,
flight operations were suspended until the SU-24s departed the area. On April 12, while Donald Cook was operating in international waters in the Baltic Sea, a Russian KA-27 Helix helicopter conducted circles at low altitude around the ship, seven in total, at approximately 5 p.m. local. The helicopter passes were also deemed unsafe and unprofessional by the ship's commanding officer. About 40 minutes following the interaction with the Russian helicopter, two Russian SU-24 jets made numerous close-range and low altitude passes, 11 in total. The Russian aircraft flew in a simulated attack profile and failed to respond to repeated safety advisories in both English and Russian. USS Donald Cook's commanding officer deemed several of these maneuvers as unsafe and unprofessional. "April 11-12, USS Donald Cook was operating in a professional manner in international waters conducting operations and exercises with our allies in the Baltic Sea." "In my judgement these maneuvers in close proximity to Donald Cook are unprofessional and unsafe." -Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa, Adm. Mark Ferguson |
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 All pictures: US Navy |
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