The Russian Jet. Photo: Sweden's National Defence Radio Establishment
Posted on 10/03/2014 9:54:12 AM PDT by McGruff
UPDATED: Swedish intelligence officials have released a picture of a Russian jet flying closely beside a Swedish intelligence plane, in what they describe as "a growing trend" in international airspace.
The photo comes from FRA, a Swedish agency that supplies intelligence to the government, and shows a Russian SU27 fighter aircraft.
In a statement, the FRA said that Russia had become "much more aggressive" in recent months and confirmed that a Russian fighter jet had flown at an "unusually provocative" distance from a Swedish jet.
Speaking with The Local, the FRA refused to get into specifics about the picture.
"We cannot comment on when it happened, nor where, but we can say that it shows an example of behaviour we weren't used to before," said Communications Manager Anni Bölenius.
"This picture is just one example, but there have been enough to confirm that there is a trend that differs from what we've seen historically."
The Signal Intelligence flights are carried out by the FRA mainly to protect Swedish territory and to support the Swedish Armed Forces.
"All our signal intelligence activities are related to national security of foreign affairs, and it's no secret that we're seeing many countries with planes in international airspace doing the same thing," Bölenius added.
Even though the flight appears to show the Russian plane just metres away, neither the Armed Forces nor the FRA consider the proximity to represent any "acute threat of imminent danger", she said.
When asked why the FRA and Armed Forces decided to release the picture now and not during one of the similar incidents before, Bölenius said that it was timed to coincide with Sweden's current discussions about national security.
"We saw it as a chance to communicate, we are trying to be as open as we can about it," she told The Local.
The news follows revelations in September that two Russian SU24 fighter-bombers had been detected flying over Swedish airspace to the south of Öland. The planes were one kilometre inside Swedish territory for about 30 seconds.
Foreign Minister Carl Bildt described the flights as "the most serious aerial incursion by the Russians during my years as foreign minister".
Tipping his wing up to show his AAMs?
Just more of Vlam Poopin’s superior intelligence on display.
We are hearing quite a bit about this kind of thing lately. But, do we hear about US military aircraft doing something similar? I don’t think that would be reported. Don’t forget that our media is controlled by the government and only approved news is disseminated.
Speed brake, probably, not sure
Funny thing about the whole snarky Hillary “RESET” button publicity stunt - it's actual true function in the real world industrial use is as EMERGENCY PANIC STOP button - not a RESET switch
Somehow I find that an ironic commentary about the Obama Administration on a whole lot of levels
Hey lady, “close” counts in horseshoes and handgrenades. No scraped paint, no foul.
Yup!
This happens to me every time I go out driving my car. Vehicles pass close behind and next to me and sometimes cut across my path and some just stop in front of me.
Get used to it, and be glad its deliberate and not an accidental occurance,which is far more dangerous. -Tom
All of the geopolitical stuff aside... that is one good looking plane.
Pushing Sweden and Finland into NATO.
Pushing Sweden and Finland into NATO.
NASCAR Rules, huh?
Ohhhhhh.......that’s the new MIG-46, NATO Codename: FARTSNIFFER
"Communicating. You know, keeping up international relations."
"I hate it when it does that."
No air force picks passive, cautious types to be their fighter pilots. Its the hot sticks that get the seats.
“Rubbin is racing”
why do they spell meters wrong?
There are no meters in the article
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.