RAF Typhoons intercept Russian spy plane and two fighter jets flying close to Nato air space
THE Royal Air Force intercepted a Russian spy plane and two fighter jets flying close to Nato air space.
The warplanes were sent packing by RAF and German Typhoons protecting the eastern flank of Nato’s border, near Estonia.
On Friday, April 14, fighter jets from the RAF’s IX Squadron and the German Air Force’s 71 "Richtofen" Wing were scrambled to intercept the unidentified planes.
One of the planes was later identified to be a Russian Air Force Il-20 Coot-A intelligence aircraft, which was transiting from mainland Russia to the Kaliningrad enclave.
It was met by two Russian Su-27 Flanker-B fighter jets based in Kaliningrad, which escorted the spy plane through the north-west area of the Estonian flight information region.
The Coot-A was a signals intelligence aircraft and was flying in a safe and professional manner, it was reported.
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However, the RAF said it was an important interception.
A pilot involved in the operation said: "We often see Russian military aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea and so this was a routine intercept for us.
"Nevertheless, the importance of intercepting these aircraft and our commitment to the collective defence of Nato airspace remains steadfast and resolute.
"What this intercept has proven is that together with our German allies, we are able to act with speed and decisiveness to effectively ensure the Alliance’s security."
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The RAF and the German Air Force have been operating Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets out of Amari Air Base, Estonia, as a combined force.
This is the fifth joint intercept the nations have conducted as part of fulfilling Nato's Baltic air policing mission – Operation Azotize.
The combined force has been in flight since March.
It comes days after it was revealed a British spy plane narrowly avoided being shot down by a Russian missile that malfunctioned.
The Russian jet was flying above the Black Sea when its pilot believed he had permission to fire, according to the secret US intelligence report.
The pilot then locked on to the spy plane and launched a missile.
Fortunately the missile malfunctioned and a potentially catastrophic incident was averted on September 29, 2022.
The Ministry of Defence, however, strenuously denied the account of the incident revealed in the documents.
An official said: "A significant proportion of the content of these reports is untrue, manipulated, or both.
"We strongly caution against anybody taking the veracity of these claims at face value and would also advise them to take time to question the source and purpose of such leaks."
Tensions have also flared at Nato's shared border with Russia after Finland joined the alliance earlier this month.
The Nordic country was officially welcomed on April 4 - taking the bloc just 78 miles from Vladimir Putin's home city of St Petersburg.
Hours before the historic move, Russia warned that Belarusian military aircraft have been upgraded to launch nuclear strikes.
Moscow's Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu also warned Finland's entry into the military alliance and Nato's move to increase its combat readiness has ramped up the risk of conflict.
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Finland's accession roughly doubles the length of the border Nato shares with Russia - and bolsters its eastern flank as the war in Ukraine rages on.
In February, Nato fighter jets intercepted three Russian military aircraft in dramatic scenes close to the Polish border.