Two Portuguese F-16 fighters intercepted a Russian military aircraft, IL-76, on Sunday off the coast of Estonia in the Baltic Sea as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission. The Russian aircraft

was flying from mainland Russia to the Kaliningrad enclave over international waters near Estonia's Baltic Sea coast without a flight plan, contact with air traffic control, or the use of its transponder. The Northern Combined Air Operations Center in Uedem, Germany, ordered the F-16s to be launched and confirmed the details of the unknown aircraft. The Portuguese fighters were launched from Šiauliai in Lithuania and had the first alert output on their second day of the mission.

After identifying and escorting the Russian plane, the Portuguese fighters safely returned to Šiauliai. The operation was a routine event, according to the Atlantic Alliance. Lieutenant Colonel José Dias, the commander of the Portuguese detachment, stated that the operation was a demonstration of the "excellent commitment, dedication, and professionalism of all the elements that make up the detachment."

Portugal leads the 62nd rotation of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, and four F-16s arrived early last week to assume responsibility for protecting NATO's regional airspace alongside the F-16s of the Romanian Air Force on March 30. Since Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined NATO in 2004, NATO allies have taken turns deploying an air policing capability to Šiauliai to protect the territorial integrity of the three Baltic allies, demonstrating Alliance cohesion and solidarity, according to the organization.

Interceptions of foreign aircraft are routine for NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which is responsible for safeguarding the airspace of the alliance's three Baltic member countries. Russian military aircraft often fly near the Baltic states' borders without notifying air traffic control or using transponders, increasing the risk of a mid-air collision. The Russian military has also conducted provocative maneuvers and exercises in the region, raising tensions in the Baltic Sea region.

The Baltic Air Policing mission is one of NATO's longest-standing air missions, aimed at protecting the airspace of the alliance's eastern flank. It was established in 2004 when Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined NATO. Since then, NATO allies have taken turns deploying fighter jets to Šiauliai, Lithuania, and Ämari, Estonia, to provide air policing capabilities in the Baltic region.

In 2021, NATO reported an increase in the number of intercepts of Russian aircraft near NATO airspace. NATO fighter jets were scrambled more than 400 times in response to Russian aircraft near the alliance's airspace, a significant increase from previous years. The majority of these incidents took place near the Baltic states, according to NATO.

In addition to the Baltic Air Policing mission, NATO has deployed additional resources to the eastern flank in response to Russian aggression in the region. NATO has increased its troop presence in the Baltic states and Poland and established a new multinational division headquarters in Poland. The alliance has also increased its naval presence in the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, where it has conducted military exercises with partner countries.

In conclusion, the interception of a Russian military aircraft by Portuguese F-16s off the coast of Estonia is a routine event for NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission. The mission is responsible for safeguarding the airspace of NATO's three Baltic member countries, which have witnessed an increase in Russian military activity in recent years. The interception is a demonstration of NATO's commitment to maintaining regional security and stability in the face of Russian aggression in the Baltic Sea region. Photo by FaceMePLS from The Hague, Wikimedia commons.