German jets scramble to escort Russian reconnaissance aircraft
Pravda Ukraine
The German Air Force has scrambled its jets from two bases to escort a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
Source: German Air Force on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda
Details: The aircraft were scrambled from the Laage (Germany) and Lielvarde (Latvia) bases.
Quote: “Our Eurofighter jets were scrambled from Laage and Lielvarde for the joint detection and escort of a Russian Il-20M, which had no flight plan and transponder.”
NATO countries have been conducting airspace patrols over Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia on a rotational basis since March 2004, when the Baltic states joined the alliance. Patrols have been conducted from the Šiauliai airbase in Lithuania since 2004, and a supporting mission has also been carried out from the Ämari airbase in Estonia since 2014. The supporting mission was based in the Latvian Lielvarde from March 2024 while repairs were being conducted at the Ämari airbase.
Background:
- From 21 to 27 October, NATO fighter jets conducting airspace patrols in the Baltic states were scrambled six times to identify and escort Russian aircraft that violated air traffic regulations.
- On 16 October, Germany scrambled its fighter jets due to the presence of a Russian Il-20 aircraft.
- A total of 109 incidents of Russian military aircraft approaching the external border of Latvia’s territorial waters have been recorded over the Baltic Sea in 2024.
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