French fighter jets were deployed to intercept Russian aircraft that approached NATO airspace with suspected heavy armament. Six Russian planes were sighted near Baltic Sea member nations Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, prompting the dispatch of four Rafale B fighters for an enhanced Air Policing Mission.
The operation was conducted from Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania, where France leads NATO’s air policing efforts. Video footage from the French military showcased Rafale jets monitoring a Su-30SM fighter and a Russian Il-20M electronic intelligence aircraft, potentially armed with Kh-31P or Kh-31PM anti-radiation missiles. The French Rafales utilized Thales Talios targeting pods during the mission.
While primarily designed for offensive purposes, these systems also offer long-range visual identification capabilities for assessing threats remotely. These actions form part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, aimed at safeguarding Baltic airspace.
Additionally, NATO jets were scrambled in response to Russian strikes in Ukraine, including attacks on Odesa region ports near NATO territory in Romania. The Romanian Air Force launched two F-16 aircraft from the 86th Air Base in Fetești, with air defense systems readied for potential threats. Subsequently, drones approaching Izmail, Ukraine, triggered a new alert message at 5:08 am.
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