In a concerning turn of events, French defense officials revealed that Russian forces issued threats to shoot down a French surveillance aircraft patrolling international airspace over the Black Sea. The incident, marking an escalation in Moscow’s aggressive behavior, comes at a time when Russia’s invasion of Ukraine faces challenges on the battlefield.
French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu disclosed the incident during an interview on RTL radio, stating that a Russian air traffic control system had explicitly threatened to shoot down a French aircraft while it was patrolling in a free international zone over the Black Sea. This unnerving encounter occurred in mid-November and involved one of France’s four giant Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) surveillance aircraft.
Colonel Pierre Gaudilliere, a French military spokesman, characterized the incident as unprecedented for French pilots in the region. He highlighted the particularly aggressive nature of the radio exchange, describing it as a first for the French military operating in that area. Two officials, speaking anonymously due to the classified nature of the details, disclosed that the threatening exchange occurred in English, with Russian air traffic control explicitly stating their intention to “destroy” the French aircraft.
Lecornu expressed deep concern over Russia’s return to a “particularly aggressive” posture, reminiscent of the Cold War era. He linked this change in behavior to Russia’s reported difficulties on the battlefield in Ukraine, signaling a departure from the conduct observed in 2022.
French air force pilots, part of NATO’s efforts to strengthen defenses on the eastern flank, regularly patrol the Black Sea region. The incident underscores the growing tensions between Russia and NATO, with French AWACS flights playing a crucial role in monitoring military activities, including missile launches and bombing runs, in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The French AWACS pilots, flying high above the Black Sea coast, adhere to orders to maintain a passive and polite stance if intercepted by Russian planes. The aircraft employs advanced radar and surveillance equipment to monitor the Crimean Peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, and to detect military activities in Ukraine.
This incident adds to a series of events illustrating Russian aggression in the Black Sea airspace. Previous instances include the release of a missile near a British surveillance aircraft in 2022 and the dumping of fuel on a U.S. Air Force surveillance drone in 2023, resulting in the drone’s crash into the Black Sea. The latest development raises concerns about the safety of international airspace and the potential for further confrontations in the strategically significant Black Sea region.
