Russian Su-35 Meets American F-35 in Skies Near Alaska

“Welcome to the world of intercepts.”

That’s one way to get a close look at a jet.

Russian pilots filmed this close encounter between their aircraft and an American fighter jet. The cockpit footage shows a Russian Su-35S fighter jet escorting a Tu-95MS “Bear” bomber over the Bering and Chukchi Seas, near Alaska. An F-35A from Eielson Air Force Base pops into view.

“Welcome to the world of intercepts,” one American fighter pilot told Soldier of Fortune. “Sometimes it’s fun and games, other times it’s not.”

Following the “Bear” encounter, a social media channel affiliated with the Russian Aerospace Forces released a second video on April 7, showing a U.S. F-16 fighter out the window of a Russian aircraft, this time not as close.

“It should be understood that almost any such approach can end in a collision of the sides, which at such speeds is almost guaranteed to end in ejection,” the Russian channel posted. “And underneath you is either the ocean or a lifeless icy desert, where the chance of your rescue by search groups is, well, about 50 percent. Either they will save you – or they won’t.”

American pilots have reported numerous encounters around the world where Russian aircraft buzzed the U.S. planes.