Russian Air Force Probes NATO Airshield (4)

Published: 19.10.2010 09:23

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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On Monday afternoon, NATO fighter planes escorted two Russian SU-24 bombers out of Baltic airspace.

According to reports from the Latvian defense ministry, the planes approaching the Latvian mainland between Liepaja and Ventspils declined to identify themselves, which cannot be regarded as a friendly gesture, wrote Postimees.ee.

The NATO squadron based in Siauliai, Lithuania, intercepted the intruders at 17.15 and escorted them out of the alliance's airspace, reported news agency LETA.

The incident took place while 1,700 Latvian, Lithuanian, Estonian, Polish and US troops were beginning a joint military exercise near Riga to rehearse cooperation of multinational NATO forces. 

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Comments (4)

  • Lingüista

    21.10.2010 05:29

    Was that an accident? Shouldn't the Russian government provide any explanations?

  • Sakslane

    22.10.2010 09:10

    No, it was not an accident. If yes, I would say, the Russian Airforce is a bunch of illiterate pilots. In the last years, the "Baltic" airspace was violated by the Russians many times. A few years back, a fully weaponed fighter on his way to Kalningrad crashed in Lithuania after violating the airspace. Usually the Russians cross Estonia to save fuel on their way to Kaliningrad oblast. It is some kind of hobby of the Russian military and political leadership to test "how far can we go". They can be pretty sure that nothing will happen. In peaceful times, it is not worth the iced-relations between NATO and RUssia to shot down one of these planes. On the other hand, NATO-fighters should violate the Russian airspace - Moscow would be furious bunch of hypocrites.

  • Arjan Arends

    23.10.2010 12:36

    This incident seems not to stand on its own: October 19, 2010: Two F-16s of the Royal Dutch Air Force intercepted a pair of Russian bomber airplanes over the North Sea on Tuesday. Two Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bombers, commonly referred to by their NATO designation “Bears,” were escorted by the Dutch fighter planes for some time. Monday night, fighter jets of the British, Danish and German air forces were first to respond to the presence of the Russian bombers. The Dutch F-16s, part of the Quick Reaction Alert stationed near the city of Leeuwarden in the north of the Netherlands, were called to action Tuesday afternoon.

  • NATO

    29.10.2010 11:44

    NATO should launch counter-probes and force the Russians to burn up valuable and, more importantly, expensive fuel for their fighters to intercept them.