air policing
LONDON
British and German air force fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian aircraft flying close to Estonian airspace, the UK defense ministry said Wednesday, amid mounting concerns about confrontation in the skies near Russia and Ukraine.
The UK and Germany are conducting joint air policing missions in Estonia as part of NATO efforts to bolster its eastern flank in response to Russia. Britain’s defense ministry said the Typhoon jets responded Tuesday after a Russian air-to-air refueling aircraft failed to communicate with Estonian air traffic control. The Russian plane didn’t enter the airspace of Estonia, a NATO member.
UK and German planes are patrolling together as part of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission until the end of April.
Wing Commander Scott Maccoll, Commander of the RAF’s 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, said “it was great to see the UK and German elements operate as one team.”
UK armed forces minister James Heappey said “this joint UK and German deployment in the Baltics clearly demonstrates our collective resolve to challenge any potential threat to NATO’s borders, whilst demonstrating our combined strength.”
