Flying intelligence missions along China's coast continues to be dangerous work. A U.S. Navy EP-3 intelligence collection aircraft was approached closely by two Chinese F-7 fighters earlier this month. Unlike the incident that resulted in a collision early in 2001, the F-7s never got closer than about 80 meters. The EP-3 that was damaged during the 2001 incident had to be rebuilt and only recently took its first test flight. That aircraft will be returning to service shortly. The navy only has a dozen EP-3s.