Su-24M (Russian Air Force)
Военно-воздушные силы России

Su-24M
NATO: Fencer-D
Operator: 277th Guards Bomber Aviation Regiment VVS
Location: Khurba Air Base (Russia)
Timeframe: 2000
Loadout: Anti-ship
- Outboard: 4x R-60
- Inboard: 2x Kh-31A
- Fuselage: Empty
- Centerline: Fuel tank

Personal interest:
This model represents a Russian Su-24M. In October and November 2000, Russian Aerospace Forces Su-24M bombers (along with Su-27P Flankers) buzzed the USS Kitty Hawk, which was operating in the Sea of Japan, on three different occasions. This type of hostile action had ceased after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. These incidents, which occurred shortly after Vladimir Putin's election to Russian Prime Minister in May 2000, marked the resurgence of the Cold War that I believed to have ended during my military service.

Russian Su-24M2 aircraft have been involved in several incidents with the US and NATO allies during my contractor service. In May 2015, Russian Su-24s made a low pass over the USS Ross the Black Sea. In November 2015, two Russian Su-24s entered Turkish airspace en route to a strike mission in Syria. The Russian pilots disregarded multiple warnings and were subsequently fired upon by Turkish Air Force F-16 pilots performing combat air patrol in the area. One of the Fencers was shot down, the other escaped into Syrian territory. In April 2016, several Russian Su-24s flew within 30 metres of the USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea. The incidents occurred over two days, with the planes making passes by the USS Donald Cook while it was in international waters. In November 2018, two armed Russian Su-24s flew low over the Belgian auxiliary ship Godetia, which was part of NATO’s northern mine-sweeping fleet.