Above, photo from a US MQ-9 drone as a Russian-Su-27-dumps-fuel-on it over the Black Sea.
Marcus Weisgerber – Defense One April 27, 2023
Russian warplanes are flying increasingly close to American fighter jets in the skies over Syria “like they’re trying to dogfight,” the top U.S. Air Force general in the region said.
Since March 1, Russian pilots have acted in hostile ways that have U.S. military leaders concerned about the possibilities for miscalculation and escalation.
The Russians have been “increasingly bellicose in how they’re approaching us,” Lt. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, who leads Air Forces Central Command, said in an interview. “They’re maneuvering aggressively against us when our protocols would say we’re supposed to stay… several miles apart and just monitor each other.”
“[T]hey’re aggressively maneuvering, almost like they’re trying to dogfight, if you will,” Grynkewich said. “That’s very concerning.”
Dogfighting is a term used to describe planes engaging each other in aerial combat.
The general’s message to his pilots: “Don’t take the bait.”
“The guidance that I’ve given our folks is we’re not going to act like they are,” Grynkewich said. “We’re going to act in a professional manner, and we’re going to try to de-escalate the situation.”
Since U.S. aircraft rarely fly alone, there are multiple aircraft to protect one another.
“We always try to keep one of our fighters in a position of advantage with respect to the Russians as they’re trying to do the maneuvering against the other one,” Grynkewich said. The other [American] one basically, tries to de-escalate, to shake them, to get them to turn and go a different direction.”
The Wall Street Journal first reported increasingly hostile interactions between American and Russian warplanes, but not the dogfighting.
For years, American and Russian jets have shared the skies over Syria. U.S. aircraft have been fighting ISIS while Moscow’s planes have backed the Syrian government’s efforts to suppress anti-government rebels. U.S. and Russian military officials communicate regularly on a “deconfliction” telephone, sharing details about planned missions, including aircraft call signs and planes’ electronic transmission codes.
The two sides still have “some technical and professional exchanges” on the phone, Grynkewich said. “I think that that is good that the phones are still ringing, the phones are still being picked up. But the physical manifestation of their behavior is concerning nonetheless.”
And the general said U.S. officials’ complaints about the encounters with Moscow appear to fall on deaf ears. Russian forces will say these long-standing protocols “don’t apply anymore in this particular area,” he said.
In mid-March, a Russian Sukhoi fighter jet collided with an American MQ-9 drone over the Black Sea. Russia’s defense minister awarded medals to the pilots, which Grynkewich said could encourage other Russian pilots to fly aggressively.
“Tactically, I think they’re becoming less disciplined as an Air Force, and operationally, the things that their leadership is asking them to do or allowing them to do is really undermining my assessment of them as a professional Air Force,” he said.
Armed Russian warplanes have also flown over American ground troops in Syria.
“I don’t think there’s any intent on the Russians to fire on an American, but the risk of miscalculation or someone just making a mistake is way higher than it needs to be,” Grynkewich said.
“The general’s message to his pilots: “Don’t take the bait.”
Ha ha ha, ‘don’t take the bait’. Good advice; after all, ace “top gun” ( LOL ) Tom, the maggot, Cruise has retired and has left the ‘girls’ and, er, ‘boys’ of “colour” to do the flying around in circles.
How can Russian pilots be hostile, when the Syrian regime invited them into Syria?
All the Russians are doing is training. The Russians can jam US jets, so there won’t be any dog fighting. US jets will just crash and burn.
Military men are all bereft of “agency”, taught how to never think, because someone higher up is paid to do that; they should never really dare to speak to the public
uninvited guest shouldn’t complain but leave the hell out there.
Oh yeah, US forces are fighting ISIS.
I think I feel sorry for those folks who believe this horseshit.
Perhaps what I feel is great pity for them. Go home America and stop putting these sad folks through your bitter lies of eternal damnation.
I don’t think the Americans are keen to engage the Russians, not so much because they illegally occupy Syria and any inquiry by the UN would expose it because they could not provide legal reasons for being there, but most likely because their aircraft will be put to the test and they may not be up to it. They had amazing aircraft decades ago which were probably up to the task then, but I think they’re still flying those same aircraft. The Russians have newer aircraft, real lean and mean, and from the way they brought down that drone and dance their aircraft on thrust above the runway in a cobra dance they’re amazing pilots.
Most people still don’t understand (or want to) the huge difference between 4-th generation and 5-th generation fighter jets and some even cling to childish pie in the sky tabloid sensationalism as their guide books and study manuals.
F-15 has actually engaged enemy fighters and it’s record is 104 to 0. That’s Zero for the
sensibly challenged. 104 to Zero. But even the F-15 can’t touch the F-22. Not even close.
“This [F-22] isn’t like F-86 to F-4 to F-15, that’s evolutionary. This is a revolution.”
Because for better or worse it’s better to know than not know.
Just get out of Syria and stop stealing the Oil Pirate Yanks, you were not invited and occupy parts of Syrian land illegaly.
Act professionaly he says, is he for real?
And offcourse the UN is silent, as usual.
Get out, and close your 800+ bases worldwide.. the world is sick and tired of your cr4p!
the yankees claim they fight against ISIS they
founded like Alkaida + suported . real reason
they want stay in neareast + rob syrian + irak oil .
lot of that oil will go to israhell .
One does not see Russians stealing oil and grain products. Americans have that honor. The Russians have been invited to help Syria with the terrorists the US founded, funded and armed.
So I suggest America leave Syria,,,, oh! and pay them for the goods the American military/mercs have stolen.
is Nico X in Bakhmut?
hp…hp…hp..
the only enemy “fighters” the F-15s ever engaged were a bunch of goat herders with old and rusty AK-47s.
But never mind..goat herders lost.
gas it., you sound like a middle school kid.
Here’s just two of many. Don’t be so lazy.
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
US generals regularly complained Russians pilot are reckless. They should look at a mirror to see who are the real reckless men and women. Fuffing thieves.