15ft from disaster: Russian jets 'recklessly' buzzed NATO aircraft, it emerges after Ben Wallace reveals Putin warplane fired a MISSILE near RAF patrol above the Black Sea

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Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has accused Russia of using its jets 'recklessly' after one of Putin's fighters went within 15 feet of a Nato aircraft. 

Mr Wallace also revealed that a fighter jet accidentally fired a missile 'in the vicinity' of an RAF patrol above the Black Sea.

Speaking to the Commons, he said Russia was using its fighters in a 'reckless' and 'unnecessary' way, which includes flying 'very, very' close to Nato aircraft.

'In one event I was aware of, a Russian fighter went within 15 feet of a Nato aircraft,' he said. 

Mr Wallace said two Russian Su-27 fighters had 'interacted' with an RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint spy plane on patrol above international waters to the south of Crimea on September 29 when one of them 'released a missile'.

Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defence minister, blamed the incident on a technical malfunction and Britain does not believe it was a deliberate attempt to escalate, Mr Wallace added.

But it will do little to ease fears that the war in Ukraine could spiral into World War Three.

A Russian Su-27 jet shadowing an RAF RC-135 spy plane over the Black Sea 'released a missile... in the vicinity' of the British plane, it has been revealed

Two Russian Su-27 fighter jets were following the British plane when one suffered a 'technical malfunction' and fired a missile, Ben Wallace said (file image). Defence Secretary also said one jet went within 15 feet of a Nato aircraft

An RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint spy plane had been flying over international waters near Crimea at the time of the incident last month (file image)

Detailing what happened between the Russian fighter and the UK plane, Mr Wallace said: 'I would also like to share with the House details of a recent incident which occurred in international airspace over the Black Sea.

'On September 29 an unarmed RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint, a civilian-style aircraft on routine patrol over the Black Sea was interacted with by two Russian armed Su-27 fighter aircraft. 

'It is not unusual for aircraft to be shadowed and this day was no different.

'During that interaction however, it transpired that one of the Su-27 aircraft released a missile in the vicinity of the RAF Rivet Joint beyond visual range.

'The total time of the interaction between the Russian aircraft and the Rivet Joint was approximately 90 minutes.

'The patrol completed and the aircraft returned to base.'

Mr Wallace told MPs Russia blamed the missile release on a 'technical malfunction'.

'The patrol completed and the aircraft returned to its base,' he said. 'In light of this potentially dangerous engagement, I have communicated my concerns directly to my Russian counterpart, defence minister (Sergei) Shoigu, and the chief of defence staff in Moscow.'

He added: 'In my letter I made clear the aircraft was unarmed, in international airspace, and following a pre-notified flight path.

Ben Wallace said he had suspended spy flights after the incident, but they have now resumed with Typhoon fighter escorts

'I felt it was prudent to suspend these patrols until a response was received by the Russian state.

'The reply by the Russian minister of defence on October 10 stated they have conducted an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and stated it was a technical malfunction of the Su-27 fighter.

'They also acknowledge that the incident took place in international airspace.'

Mr Wallace concluded his report by telling the Commons: 'The UK Ministry of Defence has shared this information with allies and, after consultation, I have restarted routine patrols, but this time escorted by fighter aircraft.

'Everything we do is calibrated with regard to ongoing conflict in the region and in accordance with international law.

'We welcome Russia's acknowledgement this was in international airspace, and the UK has conducted regular sorties with the RAF Rivet Joint in international airspace over the Black Sea since 2019 and we will continue to do so.'

The Defence Secretary suggested the Black Sea incident shows the Russian military are 'not beyond' deciding 'the rules don't apply to them'.

He also asked the public to have faith in the UK's attempt to 'walk that sometimes tightrope' when responding to Russian aggression.

He added: 'Calibration is incredibly important to me. We are dealing with the president and indeed a Russian forces who, as we have seen from the Rivet Joint incident, are not beyond making the wrong calculation or indeed deciding that the rules don't apply to them.

British spy planes have been regularly flying from UK airbases out over the Black Sea to track electronic chatter in Ukraine (pictured) 

RAF Typhoon jets have been escorting the spy planes ever since the missile incident (pictured, two Typhoons and an RAF plane above Black Sea) 

'And that is why for those constituents of ours who will be fearful that this support could lead somewhere, I ask them to have faith in us, and indeed all of us in this chamber, that we do work this very detailed response to try and make sure we walk that sometimes tightrope, and make sure it is in the right place to do it.' 

Labour MP Luke Pollard thanked Mr Wallace for his 'calmness and professionalism' amid 'much Government chaos'.

The shadow defence minister described the Russian fighter jet incident as 'serious', and welcomed the fact that RAF flights have restarted.

'The RAF have this House's full support and we are grateful to them, to other UK forces, and our Nato allies in their work protecting the alliance and protecting freedom,' he said.

'This incident also acts as a serious reminder about the importance of avoiding escalation and miscalculation while continuing the UK's united support for Ukraine.'

He added: '(Vladimir) Putin needs to be in no doubt that our resolve will continue and, whether it's his (Mr Wallace's) party or my party that's in charge, that will not change.'

He also asked about the Government's position on defence spending, saying: 'Last night the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, threw into doubt the planned rise to 3 per cent of GDP on defence spending when in a speech he referred to it as a potential increase.'