Germany scrambles fighter jets after Russian spy plane spotted over Baltic Sea
Photo: Russian aircraft entered the Baltic Sea on October 16 (GettyImages)
Germany scrambled fighter jets because of a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft. It flew into the international waters of the Baltic Sea, according to the German Air Force.
As the German Air Force reported, a Russian aircraft was flying without radio communication and a flight plan between the German island of Rügen and the Danish island of Bornholm. It entered international waters over the Baltic Sea.
As a result, two Eurofighter jets were scrambled from the Rostock-Laage airbase. Their mission was to "establish visual contact" with the violator.
Unsere #QRA aus Laage wurde heute aktiviert, um ein ohne Flugplan und Transponder zu identifizieren. Unsere #Eurofighter eskortierte ein Aufklärungsflugzeug (IL-20) über die Ostsee.#SecuringTheSkies#WeAreNato@NATO pic.twitter.com/uGKAMlXhez
— Team Luftwaffe (@Team_Luftwaffe) October 16, 2024
What is known about the Baltic defense line
In Estonia, the construction of the Baltic defense line will take place in three phases. The first two phases involve creating 40 strongpoints and 12 storage facilities, while the third phase will add an additional 8 points. This defensive system, in accordance with the decisions made at the NATO summit, will ensure the protection of allies from the very border.
At the same time, NATO aircraft periodically patrol the airspace of the three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as none of them possess fighter jets.
