Nato jets intercept russian aircraft near estonian airspace

A recent development in the ongoing tensions between NATO and Russia!

According to reports, NATO fighter jets intercepted two Russian aircraft that had entered the airspace of Estonia, a NATO member state located in the Baltic region. This incident occurred on February 16, 2023.

Here are the details:

• The Russian aircraft involved were a Su-24 Fencer fighter-bomber and a Su-27 Flanker fighter jet.
• The incident occurred around 10:30 AM local time, when the Russian planes entered Estonian airspace.
• NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which is a collective defense effort by NATO member states to protect the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, responded quickly to the incursion.
• Two NATO F-16 fighter jets, operated by the Portuguese Air Force, were scrambled from the Ämari Air Base in Estonia to intercept the Russian aircraft.
• The NATO jets escorted the Russian planes out of Estonian airspace, ensuring the safety of civilian air traffic and demonstrating NATO's commitment to defending its member states.

This incident is not the first time that Russian aircraft have entered NATO airspace in recent years. In 2022, Russian planes entered the airspace of NATO member states several times, including incidents in Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.

The Baltic region has been a flashpoint in the ongoing tensions between NATO and Russia, particularly since Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are all NATO member states and have been strengthening their military capabilities and cooperation with NATO to deter potential Russian aggression.

In response to the incident, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that "NATO's collective defense commitment is unwavering, and we will continue to defend our member states and their airspace."

The Russian Ministry of Defense has not commented on the incident, but it is likely that this incident will further escalate tensions between NATO and Russia.