German Eurofighters Scrambled to Intercept Russian Reconnaissance Plane Over Baltic Sea

On October 16, the German Air Force reported that Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft were scrambled in response to a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance plane flying over international waters in the Baltic Sea.

The Russian aircraft was operating with its communications turned off and without a flight plan, reportedly entering an area between the German town of Rügen and the Danish town of Bornholm.

In reaction, two Eurofighter jets took off from Rostock-Laage airfield in northeastern Germany to "establish visual contact," according to Deutsche Welle. The German jets then escorted the Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea.

This incident follows the interception of six other Russian aircraft by NATO jets over a two-day period in late September. Additionally, German and Swedish fighters were dispatched in August to intercept another Il-20.

Over the past two years, allied forces have reportedly launched operations every three to four weeks on average to intercept Russian aircraft, as noted by Deutsche Welle.

Previously, Japan scrambled fighter jets after Russian military aircraft circled the archipelago for the first time in five years.