NATO Fighters Scramble to Intercept Russian Be-200 Amphibious Aircraft Near Baltic Sea

Italian Air Force fighter jets deployed in Estonia intercepted a Russian amphibious aircraft flying toward the Baltic Sea on January 16, 2026, as part of NATO’s Air Policing mission. According to NATO Air Command, the intercepted aircraft was a Beriev Be-200PS operated by the Russian Navy.

The scramble took place at approximately 13:30 Kyiv time, when Eurofighter Typhoon jets stationed at Ämari Air Base were launched to identify and monitor the incoming Russian plane. The aircraft was flying from mainland Russia and approaching international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

According to NATO, the mission was conducted in line with its standing Baltic Air Policing procedures, which aim to protect the Alliance’s airspace, especially along its eastern borders. Under this framework, Allied fighter aircraft are routinely dispatched to intercept non-compliant or unidentified military aircraft operating near NATO airspace.

The intercepted aircraft, identified as the Be-200PS (tail number RF-88456, “21 Yellow”), is a twin-engine jet-powered amphibious plane developed by Russia’s Beriev Design Bureau. The aircraft first flew in 1998 and was introduced into service in the early 2000s. The particular unit intercepted over the Baltic reportedly entered service in 2020.

The Be-200 is equipped with two D-436T turbofan engines and is capable of speeds up to 720 km/h with a flight range of approximately 3,850 kilometers. Originally designed for multi-role use, the aircraft can take off and land on both land and water.

Its primary missions include firefighting (carrying up to 12 tonnes of water), search and rescue, maritime patrol, and cargo transport. In transport configuration, the plane can accommodate up to 72 passengers.

Earlier, Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over international waters of the Baltic Sea after it flew close to Polish airspace, according to the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces.

The same night, Polish radar systems also detected unidentified aerial objects entering from the direction of Belarus, which were later assessed as likely weather or smuggling balloons drifting with wind conditions. Polish authorities said there was no direct threat, though parts of the airspace were temporarily closed as a precaution.

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