Russian Su-24 Fighter Confronts USS Donald Cook in Black Sea

Russian Su-24 Amid escalating tensions in the region, a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft repeatedly flew close to U.S. Navy USS Dona...

Russian Su-24

Amid escalating tensions in the region, a Russian Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft repeatedly flew close to U.S. Navy USS Donald Cook Destroyer while patrolling in international waters in the western Black Sea near Romania, on April 12, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Steve Warren said today.

Two unarmed Su-24 aircraft were present, but only one took part in the provocative actions, Warren said. The aircraft approached within about 1,000 yards of the ship, but never over flew the destroyer.
“The Russian plane made a total of 12 passes,” he said. The wingman stayed at a considerably higher altitude.

USS Donald Cook  U.S. Navy photo

“The aircraft did not respond to multiple queries and warnings from Donald Cook, and the event ended without incident after approximately 90 minutes,” Warren said.

Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer Donald Cook arrived in Black Sea on April 10 to demonstrate support for Eastern European allies concerned about Russia's military buildup along eastern border of Ukraine following annexation of Crimea last month.

“The Donald Cook is more than capable of defending itself against two Su-24s,” the colonel said.

The Cook is now making a port call in Constanta, Romania.
USS Donald Cook, the first of four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers to be forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is on a scheduled patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility as part of the president's European Phased Adaptive Approach to ballistic missile defense in Europe. It carries the RIM-156 SM-2 missile for Terminal phase Ballistic Missile Defense.