Germany and Britain intercepted three Russian military reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea, the German air force said on Wednesday.
“Reconnaissance flights intercepted. German and British Eurofighters were alerted to identify three military aircraft. The two Su-27 Flankers and a IL-20 from Russia were flying again without transponder signals in international airspace over the Baltic Sea,” said the air force on Twitter.
Aufklärungsflieger abgefangen. 🇩🇪 und 🇬🇧 #Eurofighter wurden alarmiert, um 3 Militärmaschinen zu identifizieren. Die zwei SU-27 Flanker und eine IL-20 aus 🇷🇺 flogen erneut ohne Transpondersignal im int. Luftraum über der Ostsee. #SecuringTheSkies #VAPB @NATO @GermanyNATO… pic.twitter.com/sOY4CPkrbe
— Team Luftwaffe (@Team_Luftwaffe) April 26, 2023
As a NATO member, Germany participates in monitoring the air space over the Baltic states.
Security has been heightened for the Baltic states after Russia invaded Ukraine last year.
Russian military jets have repeatedly strayed into the airspace over the Baltic Sea in recent months.
The Norwegian air force said Tuesday it had similarly identified a group of Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Barents Sea to the north of the country.
The aircraft included two Tu-160 Blackjack bombers, two Il-78 Midas aerial refueling tankers, and three MiG-31 Foxhound fighter jets, the air force said on Facebook.
