Which 2018 event involved a Russian SU-27 flying within 5 feet of a U.S. EP-3?

Which 2018 event involved a Russian SU-27 flying within 5 feet of a U.S. EP-3?

• A. A Russian MIG-29 performed a close pass near a U.S. EP-3.
• B. A Russian SU-25 engaged in a mock intercept near a U.S. EP-3.
• C. A Russian TU-160 conducted a preflight near an EP-3.
• D. A Russian SU-27 flew within 5 feet of a U.S. EP-3.

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is recognizing a specific, highly publicized incident: a Russian fighter coming extremely close to a U.S. EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft. In 2018, reports described a Russian SU-27 flying within about five feet of a U.S. EP-3, an extremely dangerous close-interval intercept that drew a lot of attention and concern about air safety and international-incident risk. The EP-3 Aries II is a signals intelligence aircraft, so a near-pass by a Sukhoi fighter directly targeting or shadowing it fits the scenario described. The other options don’t fit that exact event. They involve different aircraft or different types of interaction (a close pass by a MIG-29, a mock intercept by a SU-25, or a TU-160 doing a preflight), none of which match the specific 2018 close-range SU-27 encounter with the EP-3.

The key idea here is recognizing a specific, highly publicized incident: a Russian fighter coming extremely close to a U.S. EP-3 reconnaissance aircraft. In 2018, reports described a Russian SU-27 flying within about five feet of a U.S. EP-3, an extremely dangerous close-interval intercept that drew a lot of attention and concern about air safety and international-incident risk. The EP-3 Aries II is a signals intelligence aircraft, so a near-pass by a Sukhoi fighter directly targeting or shadowing it fits the scenario described.

The other options don’t fit that exact event. They involve different aircraft or different types of interaction (a close pass by a MIG-29, a mock intercept by a SU-25, or a TU-160 doing a preflight), none of which match the specific 2018 close-range SU-27 encounter with the EP-3.