Two Swedish fighter jets beneath NATO command have been scrambled Thursday over the Baltic Sea to escort away a Russian reconnaissance airplane that was approaching Polish airspace, Sweden’s armed forces stated, marking at the least the third time in a few week that Russian plane had been intercepted within the area.
“The airplane was near Polish airspace so we went as much as sign our presence, make a visible identification and escort it out of the realm,” Swedish air drive spokeswoman Therese Akerstedt advised AFP.
The Swedish jets, primarily based in Malbork, Poland beneath NATO command, recognized the plane as a Russian IL-20 Coot reconnaissance airplane. The mission passed off in worldwide airspace, Swedish officers stated.
NATO Air Command released images of the operation on social media.
Sweden joined NATO in March 2024.
The incident unfolded simply days after Britain stated it had dispatched two of its fighter jets to intercept Russian warplanes over the Baltic Sea. Britain’s protection ministry said in a statement that Hurricane fighters have been scrambled to intercept a Russian IL-20 Coot reconnaissance airplane final Tuesday, and two days later, the jets intercepted an unknown plane leaving Kaliningrad air house.
“With Russian aggression rising and safety threats on the rise, we’re stepping as much as reassure our Allies, deter adversaries and shield our nationwide safety,” Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard stated in a press release.
Tensions over the Baltic Sea have heightened since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.