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Lithuania Deciphers Su-27 Black Box
Once again, Lithuanian investigators interrogated Su-27 pilot Valery Troyanov. This time, the investigators were reinforced by the data of the black box deciphered by using the aid of Ukrainian experts.
On September 28, 2005, Lithuanian Defense Minister Gediminas Kirkilas expressed his gratitude to four experts of Ukraine, who helped decipher the data of black box of Russian Su-27 fighter. Su-27 crashed near the Lithuanian city of Kaunas September 15, 2005. The plane was flying between St Petersburg and Kaliningrad, which is cut off from the rest of Russia by Lithuanian and Polish territory, but came down. The pilot – Mayor Valery Troyanov - was unharmed and managed to eject from the aircraft. Similar to Lithuania, Ukraine also operates the Su-27s and its experts were the first to come to the rescue of Lithuanian colleagues, well ahead of the NATO specialists. Russia was not asked for help at all.
Now Lithuania is to compare the black box data with the data of Russian radars that followed the Su-27 flight and with the records of air inspectors’ intercourse with Troyanov. Russia is apparently in no hurry to provide the information, Lithuanian officials claim.
But it appears certain significant conclusions have been arrived at already. NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said radar control of the air should be analyzed once again. According to Lithuania, Su-27 was flying over its territory during 20 minutes, while the German planes from the NATO Military Police that are to control the Baltic air took off only after the crash. To tighten control, perhaps, three F-16 Fighting Falcons of the U.S. Air Force landed in Lithuania yesterday. Two more fighters are expected on October 1, 2005. NATO calls it the regular changing of guard.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Sep. 29, 2005
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