Air Force Fighter Jets from Germany and Sweden Scramble to Intercept Russian Surveillance Plane over Baltic Sea
Air force fighter jets from Germany and Sweden were scrambled to intercept and track a Russian surveillance plane flying unidentified over the Baltic Sea, military officials reported.
Two Swedish JAS 39 Gripen jets and two German Eurofighter jets were deployed in international airspace to monitor and photograph the Russian IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft. The Russian plane was flying without providing a flight path or radio contact that would signal its presence, according to Swedish and German air force officials.
The monitoring operation ended without incident. It took place amid heightened alert among NATO and European Union member countries over Russian military and reconnaissance activities in and around their airspace.
Recent Incidents Raise Tensions
Just last Friday, three Russian fighter aircraft entered Estonia’s airspace without permission, remaining there for 12 minutes, the Estonian Foreign Ministry confirmed. This event occurred shortly after NATO planes shot down Russian drones over Poland, escalating fears that the conflict in Ukraine could spill over into neighboring regions.
Details from Swedish and German Air Forces
According to the Swedish Air Force’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, their JAS 39 Gripen jets, along with German Eurofighters, were scrambled over the South Baltic Sea to identify and monitor the Russian IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft in international airspace.
The German Luftwaffe stated that its jets initially followed the Russian plane before handing off monitoring responsibilities to the Swedish fighters. After this transition, the German jets returned to Rostock-Laage airfield in northern Germany.
This coordinated response highlights NATO allies’ vigilance in maintaining security and surveillance over key airspaces amid ongoing regional tensions.
https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/german-and-swedish-jets-track-russian-reconnaissance-plane-over-baltic-sea-1809485.html