Britain and Germany deployed Typhoon fighter jets to track a group of four Russian planes that appeared over the Baltic Sea, near Estonian airspace.
“The NATO fighter squadron took off to monitor the Russian aircraft group including Tu-134 transport aircraft escorted by two Su-27 fighters, and an An-12 transport aircraft. The Russian planes at that time. operating near Estonian airspace,” the British Air Force said in a statement on March 18, referring to the encounter a day earlier.
German Typhoon fighter jets follow the Russian An-12 transport in the Baltic Sea on March 17. Image: British Defense Force.
The British and German air forces are on a mission to patrol NATO airspace in the Baltic region, including deploying fighter jets stationed in countries in the region and ready to deploy forces to monitor aircraft operating near the air. part of the countries of the union.
“The encounter is a normal mission of the Typhoon fighters, and it is also a move to affirm that Britain and Germany and their NATO allies stand by Estonia in the current tense period,” the statement read.
The Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on the information.
Russian planes often fly near the airspace of the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on their journey to and from the overseas territory of Kaliningrad.
Russia and NATO have also repeatedly deployed bombers or reconnaissance aircraft close to each other’s airspace. Aircraft on both sides always encounter each other in these missions, but often approach and monitor professionally and safely.
Baltic Sea countries. Graphics: SWP.
Tensions in the Baltic region have escalated since the middle of last year due to Russia’s campaign in Ukraine, as well as Sweden and Finland’s application to join NATO. After NATO admits these two countries, Russia will become the only Baltic coastal country that is not a member of the alliance.
Vu Anh (Theo UK Defence Journal)