Report: Russian Fighter Jet Makes Close Pass on U.S. Navy Ship

The Associated Press has posted a story which quotes a U.S. military official as saying that a Russian fighter jet -- which apparently was unarmed -- made several close-range fly bys near the US Navy's USS Donald Cook (DDG 75), which is operating in the Black Sea.

According to the report the incident lasted for more than an hour and a half, and that the jet flew within 1,000 yards of the ship.

The forward deployed guided-missile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) arrived in Constanta, Romania to enhance multinational interoperability with NATO allies in region, April 14. According to the Navy, Donald Cook's visit to Romania is an example of the U.S. Navy's commitment to strengthen ties while working toward mutual goals in the Black Sea. This multi-mission destroyer is there to reassure our NATO allies that we share a commitment to promote peace and stability in the region.

Donald Cook's multi-mission capability allows the ship to contribute to regional maritime security, perform search and rescue activities, support humanitarian missions, conduct bilateral and multilateral training missions, and to support NATO operations and deployments, throughout the region.

The U.S. Navy, on a normal and routine basis, operates ships in the Black Sea consistent with the Montreux Convention and International Law.

Donald Cook, the first of four Arleigh Burke-class destroyers to be forward-deployed to Rota, Spain, is serving on a scheduled patrol in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations as part of the President's Phased Adaptive Approach to European ballistic missile defense.
 

(AP & Staff Reports)