London: British and German Air Force fighters scramble to intercept Russian aircraft flying close to Estonian airspaceBritain’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday, amid growing concerns of a clash in the skies near Russia and Ukraine. Britain and Germany are conducting a joint aerial policing mission in Estonia as part of NATO’s efforts to strengthen its eastern flank in response to Russia.
Britain’s Defense Ministry said Typhoon jets responded on Tuesday after a Russian air-to-air refueller failed to communicate with Estonian air traffic control.
The Russian aircraft did not enter the airspace of NATO member Estonia.
UK and German aircraft have been patrolling together as part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission until the end of April.
Wing Commander Scott McCall, commander of the RAF’s 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, said: “It was great to see the UK and German elements working as a team.”
UK Minister for the Armed Forces James Happy said, “This joint UK and German deployment to the Baltics clearly demonstrates our collective resolve to challenge any potential threat to NATO’s borders, while demonstrating our combined strength.” does.”
Such interceptions are routine – even before Russia invaded Ukraine last year, NATO aircraft were involved in about 400 interceptions a year with Russian aircraft.
But the incident comes amid heightened tensions following a collision between a Russian jet and an American drone over the Black Sea.
Washington and Moscow gave conflicting accounts of Tuesday’s incident.
The US said a Russian Su-27 fighter jet rammed the propeller of an MQ-9 Reaper drone, and the US military had to bring down the unmanned craft.
Russia said the drone crashed after performing “swift manoeuvres”.
The incident appears to be the first time since the height of the Cold War that an American aircraft was brought down after an encounter with a Russian warplane.
It highlighted the risks of confrontation between Russia and the West amid the war in Ukraine.
Britain’s Defense Ministry said Typhoon jets responded on Tuesday after a Russian air-to-air refueller failed to communicate with Estonian air traffic control.
The Russian aircraft did not enter the airspace of NATO member Estonia.
UK and German aircraft have been patrolling together as part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission until the end of April.
Wing Commander Scott McCall, commander of the RAF’s 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, said: “It was great to see the UK and German elements working as a team.”
UK Minister for the Armed Forces James Happy said, “This joint UK and German deployment to the Baltics clearly demonstrates our collective resolve to challenge any potential threat to NATO’s borders, while demonstrating our combined strength.” does.”
Such interceptions are routine – even before Russia invaded Ukraine last year, NATO aircraft were involved in about 400 interceptions a year with Russian aircraft.
But the incident comes amid heightened tensions following a collision between a Russian jet and an American drone over the Black Sea.
Washington and Moscow gave conflicting accounts of Tuesday’s incident.
The US said a Russian Su-27 fighter jet rammed the propeller of an MQ-9 Reaper drone, and the US military had to bring down the unmanned craft.
Russia said the drone crashed after performing “swift manoeuvres”.
The incident appears to be the first time since the height of the Cold War that an American aircraft was brought down after an encounter with a Russian warplane.
It highlighted the risks of confrontation between Russia and the West amid the war in Ukraine.
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