Why a Russian Su-35 Just Made a Threatening ‘Headbutting’ Approach to an F-16 Near Alaska

<p >A Russian Air Force Su-35 fighter made a threatening approach to a U.S. Air Force F-16 near Alaska, after the American fighter was scrambled to intercept on a pair of Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers off the coast of Alaska. Footage of the incident shows the Su-35, which was escorting the bombers at the time, cutting in front of and across the F-16’s path at very close range, in what has been referred to by some sources as a ‘headbutting’ manoeuvre. The video shows that the F-16 pilot was highly alarmed. The incident occurred on September 23, but was only publicised a week later. The Russian aircraft refrained for entering enter American airspace. Russian sources have <a href=" target="_blank">referred</a> to the manoeuvre as having “highlighted the pilot’s extreme courage,” with the dangers involved seen as a show of resolve to the United States. "It's not so much about professionalism as the extreme courage of our fighter jet pilot who, being hundreds of kilometres from our coast and over the open ocean, boldly and audaciously shows who rules the roost," a retired Russian Air Force pilot commented when speaking to state media outlet TASS. Such shows of force are considered particularly important at a time of high tensions between the two states, and as the possibility of escalating the Ukrainian conflict with long range strikes into Russia continues to be considered in the Western world.</p><p ><img src=" ></p><p >The Su-35 is close to twice the size of the F-16, has well over double the engine power, and carriers a radar several times larger, which placed the Russian pilot in a strong position to intimidate his American counterpart. Su-35s have a wider wingspan and much higher endurance than any fighter class in the Western world, although they lack advanced stealth capabilities comparable to American and Chinese fifth generation fighters, and have not integrated <a href=" target="_blank">modern air to air missiles</a> comparable to the <a href=" target="_blank">American AIM-260</a> or Chinese PL-15. Su-35s and F-16s have encountered each other across multiple theatres, with Russia having<a href=" target="_blank"> deployed the aircraft</a> from Khmeimim Airbase in Syria to intercept Israeli and Turkish F-16s to prevent them from attacking Syrian targets multiple times. </p><p >The Su-35, and the older Su-27 on which the <a href=" target="_blank">design is closely based</a>, have been involved in multiple close encounters with American fighters over the last two years. American MQ-9 Reaper drones have made multiple close approaches to Russian Air Force fighters over Syria, with Su-35s <a href=" targeted</a>. Su-35s have in turn at times <a href=" aggressive manoeuvres</a> near Reapers over Syria, which in one incident in July 2023 <a href=" target="_blank">resulted in severe damage</a> to one of the drones. These encounters have consistently occurred within Syrian airspace, which U.S. and other Western aircraft violate daily. Beyond Syria, in March 2023 a Russian Su-27 <a href=" >conducted similar manoeuvres</a> near a Reaper near Crimea causing it to crash.</p>