A Russian IL78 Midas air-to-air refuelling aircraft was intercepted by a joint operation of British and German fighters near Estonian airspace, as the aircraft was not responding to communications.
This marked the first joint NATO Air Policing interception, carried out by a Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jet from Ämari Air Base in Estonia, along with a German Air Force Typhoon.
The Typhoon jets were scrambled to escort the IL78 Midas, which was flying between St Petersburg and Kaliningrad, and later re-tasked to intercept an AN148 airliner passing Estonian airspace.
The interception was part of the planned Joint NATO Air Policing by the RAF and German Air Force, demonstrating their commitment to NATO and standing with their Estonian ally during times of tension.
Although the interception was a routine NATO mission for the Typhoons, it provided reassurance that the UK and Germany, along with other NATO allies, are capable of conducting joint operations.
A Typhoon pilot from IX(Bomber) Squadron, operating as part of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, was quoted as saying:
“We were scrambled to intercept an aircraft that was approaching Estonian airspace. We identified and monitored it as it transited close to NATO airspace.
Any aircraft that are not communicating with Air Traffic Control or on a recognised flight plan will be intercepted by us to ensure we know who they are and maintain flight safety for all airspace users. As a fighter pilot this was a routine business, even though I was flying alongside a German colleague. It is clear that all of our training and hard work paid off as we seamlessly operated together.”
The Royal Air Force is deployed on Operation Azotize in Estonia to conduct the long-established NATO Baltic Air Policing mission, you can read more here.
Pardon my ignorance, but can someone who is not a Russian troll please explain what the possible advantages Russia might get by not registering flight plans to the relevant aviation authorities? They aren’t at war with us and on their admission they aren’t at war with anyone. And do we register flight plans when we fly near them?
What they gain from it is quite simple, it gives them a good idea about nato response times in certain areas, how many warnings we will give before escalating, gives them a good idea of how far into other nations airspace they can push before getting a response and potentially it also gives them a chance to find a weak link in the chain of defense.
I suspect that it is common practice for military flights of any nation not to issue flight plans, although often flying with their transponder on. I doubt that the B-52 as per the other current thread, had told the Russians of its plans as it flew towards St Petersberg but having its transponder on. An interesting further question perhaps is how often they fly with their transponders on, which is how FR24 can track them, as opposed to ‘dark’ which may need someone going up to check them out.
They get a feel for the response times of NATO QRF. Something of interest to them considering the placement of Kaliningrad with enclave and it’s strategic importance. More correctly known as the Teutonic city of Königsberg, it’s proper German name before those vile Bolshevik scum occupied and renamed it. The place needs to be liberated.
For a suprise attack… If Russia or China strike first it’s highly likely they will win. Just keeping us on our toes. I’m sure our American cousins are super computing war games now to see what collateral there would be after a nato first strike