(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — German Air Force’ Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircrafts based in Latvia were deployed to intercept two MiG-29K fighter jets over the Baltic Sea airspace a few days ago.
Latvian officials reported that the Russian MiG-29K jets were intercepted due to their failure to notify their flight plans to the Baltic aviation authorities and their lack of communication.
The MiG-29K is a multirole fighter aircraft developed in the 1980s and operates from Russian aircraft carriers.
Known as a 4th-generation multirole fighter, the MiG-29K is designed for all-weather operations and can perform both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
The Eurofighter Typhoons operating in Latvia are part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, aimed at protecting Baltic airspace from Russian combat aircraft incursions.
In addition to the Eurofighter Typhoons, the German military contributes a Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) at Ämari Air Base in Estonia.
This CRC facility is integrated into the Air Surveillance and Control Network, enhancing NATO’s capability to monitor and respond to any airspace incursions.
Since the Baltic states joined NATO, the alliance has maintained strict air policing missions in the region, especially over the Baltic Sea bordering Russia.
These missions have been ongoing for two decades, demonstrating NATO’s commitment to the sovereignty and security of its Baltic member states.
The interception of the MiG-29K jets is the latest incident highlighting tensions in Baltic airspace due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In late June, the Norwegian Air Force deployed two fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to intercept and escort two Russian Tu-142MK maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft flying over the Bay of Biscay, off the western coast of France.
These Russian aircraft were on a “special mission.”
According to the German magazine “Flug Revue,” the Russian maritime patrol aircraft flew a 15-hour, 10,000 km mission from the Bay of Biscay to the North Atlantic.
The “special mission” of the Tu-142MK aircraft originated from Kipelovo and aimed to test a newly installed Over-The-Horizon (OTH) radar in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia.
Additionally, the defense portal reported that alongside the two Tu-142MK maritime patrol aircraft, a Tu-95 bomber was detected flying along the Alaskan coastline.
According to NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command), the Tu-95 bomber entered the Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) and remained there for approximately four hours.
In June, a Russian Air Force Su-24 fighter jet violated Swedish airspace east of Gotland, Sweden’s largest island in the Baltic Sea.
Gotland is located about 300 km from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and 600 km from mainland Russia.
This airspace violation, which occurred on June 14, was the first since Sweden became the latest NATO member.
According to the Swedish Armed Forces, despite receiving radio warnings from the Swedish Armed Forces Command Center, the Russian fighter jet did not alter its course.
This prompted the Swedish Air Force to deploy its JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets to force the Russian aircraft to leave Swedish airspace.
Swedish Air Force Commander Jonas Wikman criticized the actions of the Russian Air Force.
“Russia’s actions are unacceptable and show a lack of respect for the sovereignty of other nations. We monitored the entire process and were prepared to intervene,” he said.
While the incursion was brief, its implications are significant, he added. – DSA