NATO jets intercept Russian aircraft over Baltic Sea

Ulyana Krychkovska - 21 April, 20:26

F-16 jets. Stock photo: Getty Images

NATO fighter jets intercepted Russian strategic bombers and fighter aircraft over the Baltic Sea in a recent airspace incident near the Alliance's eastern flank.

Source: Euronews, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The French military contingent based in Lithuania as part of NATO's Baltic air policing mission said fighter jets from several Alliance countries were scrambled on 20 April.

Aircraft from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Denmark and Romania took part in the operation, along with French Rafale jets.

The mission was launched after a Russian air group appeared consisting of two Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers and around ten Su-30 and Su-35 fighter jets escorting the strategic aircraft.

Background:

France and Romania took over air policing of the Baltic states on 31 March, operating from the Lithuanian base in Šiauliai.
Portugal also began patrols at that time from the Amari base in Estonia.
On 15 April, Romanian fighter jets taking part in NATO's Baltic air policing mission intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea.

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