Which Russian aircraft type was involved in the 2018 near-distance incident with a U.S. EP-3?

Which Russian aircraft type was involved in the 2018 near-distance incident with a U.S. EP-3?

• A. MiG-29
• B. Su-24
• C. Tu-95
• D. SU-27

Answer: (D)

The event hinges on recognizing the interceptor used by Russia in that close-quarters encounter with the U.S. EP-3 Aries. It was a Su-27 Flanker. This aircraft is a twin-engine, single-seat air‑superiority fighter that Russia has widely used for intercepts of Western ISR aircraft. Its capability for rapid, tight passes and aggressive maneuvering is consistent with the famous near-distance intercepts reported in 2018. The other aircraft types listed serve different roles: a MiG-29 is another fighter but not the one identified in this incident; the Tu-95 is a long-range bomber, and the Su-24 is a ground-attack aircraft. So the Su-27 is the correct match for this particular encounter.

The event hinges on recognizing the interceptor used by Russia in that close-quarters encounter with the U.S. EP-3 Aries. It was a Su-27 Flanker. This aircraft is a twin-engine, single-seat air‑superiority fighter that Russia has widely used for intercepts of Western ISR aircraft. Its capability for rapid, tight passes and aggressive maneuvering is consistent with the famous near-distance intercepts reported in 2018. The other aircraft types listed serve different roles: a MiG-29 is another fighter but not the one identified in this incident; the Tu-95 is a long-range bomber, and the Su-24 is a ground-attack aircraft. So the Su-27 is the correct match for this particular encounter.