MOSCOW: Russia announced on Monday that it had deployed a Su-27 fighter jet to intercept two aircraft, one German and one French, which Moscow claimed had attempted to breach its airspace over the Baltic Sea.
In a statement, the Russian defense ministry stated, “After diverting the foreign military planes away from the Russian Federation state border, the Russian fighter jet returned safely to its airbase.”
The two aircraft involved in the incident were a P-3C Orion German patrol plane and an Atlantique 2 anti-submarine patrol aircraft belonging to the French navy.
The defense ministry emphasized that the interception by the Russian fighter jet was conducted in strict compliance with international regulations regarding the use of airspace over neutral waters. It further clarified that the operation was executed without crossing air routes or engaging in any dangerous maneuvers with the foreign aircraft.
Incidents in Baltic Sea
This is not the first time such incidents have occurred in the region. In April, Russia dispatched a fighter jet to escort a German naval aircraft in the Baltic Sea. Additionally, in March, a US drone was downed following an encounter with a Russian jet over the Black Sea.
The interception of foreign aircraft by Russian fighter jets has raised concerns about the increasing tensions and close encounters in the Baltic and Black Sea regions. The incidents highlight the ongoing military maneuvers and heightened surveillance activities conducted by various nations in these strategic areas.
