B-1B Bombers in Europe: Escorted by Friendly Su-27s - Then Intercepted By Adversary Su-27s

In a major show of force in Eastern Europe, two B-1B Lancer supersonic heavy bombers from the U.S. Air Force conducted a flight over the Black Sea region and were provided with escorts and other support from regional allies. The Air Force has reportedly made extensive efforts to boost the B-1B fleet's combat readiness rates, after over 90% of the aircraft were found to be unfit for combat in 2019 due to poor maintenance. Commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa General Jeff Harrigian stated regarding the mission: “Bomber Task Force missions to Europe demonstrate commitment to our allies and partners all while providing a clear deterrence message to any adversary… The integration of our strategic bomber presence across Europe proves that the U.S., alongside any ally or partner, stands ready to deter, and if needed, can employ these capabilities together.”

While the American bombers were escorted by Polish F-16s and backed by Turkish KC-135 Stratotankers, perhaps the most unusual escort came from Ukraine which deployed Su-27 Flankers. The deployment of these elite Soviet built jets, the most capable in the USSR’s inventory which were never exported during the Cold War, provides a key indicator as to how much the balance of power in Europe has shifted in favour of the Western Bloc - which now enjoys massive influence not only in the former Warsaw Pact but also on the territory of the former USSR itself. Ukrainian Su-27s have suffered from high crash rates however, and their sensors and armaments have not been significantly upgraded which seriously limits their combat potential. Ukraine’s Su-27s were not the only ones in the sky during the exercises however, with Russia also deploying more modern variants of the heavyweight jet to intercept the B-1B Lancers over the Black Sea. Russian Su-27s have integrated a range of new technologies since the Cold War’s end including hybrid Irbis-E radars, new electronic warfare suits and R-77 active radar guided missiles. Su-27 fighters are increasingly being phased out of a frontline role in favour of new Su-35 and Su-30SM platforms which are currently being serially produced. The beginning of mass production of the Su-57 in July 2019 is expected to eventually accelerate this process. The Russian military  subsequently published footage of Su-27s intercepting the American bombers, an incident which came amid rising tensions between NATO and Moscow.