The Latvian Control and Reporting Centre detected non-NATO aircraft off the Latvian coast and promptly relayed the information to the Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany. Subsequently, the decision was made to alert the German Eurofighters stationed at Lielvarde, which were on their inaugural day of Air Policing duties.
After taking off, the German pilots received mission specifics and approached the Russian military aircraft operating over the Baltic Sea. The Russian aircraft had not filed a flight plan, were not in communication with Civilian Air Traffic Control, and lacked transponders indicating their identity. Upon visually identifying the aircraft, the German pilots escorted them before safely returning to Lielvarde Air Base. The incident was characterized as a routine interception carried out professionally.
Colonel Viesturs Masulis, commander of the Latvian Air Force, emphasized the significance of the event, stating: “This first alert take-off of German Eurofighters from Lielvarde showcases NATO’s ability and commitment to deter and if necessary defend Allied airspace. We are aware and ready 24/7 of potential threats to our territory.”
Meanwhile, NATO Allied Command reported that French Mirage jets intercepted two Russian jets and a Russian transport aircraft in international waters north of Poland.
Photos posted on the X platform show the two 2000-5 jets heading off the Kremlin's Su-30-M fighter jets, while a video shows the jets then racing towards the Antonov An-72 military aircraft.
The incidents are the latest in a series of recent airspace breaches by Russian aircraft.
