Russian Warship Locks Onto French Patrol Aircraft Over Baltic Sea

A Russian naval unit engaged in what the French Armed Forces Joint Staff described as an aggressive act against a French Breguet Br.1150 Atlantic patrol aircraft conducting surveillance over the Baltic Sea, according to a statement released on March 19.

The report states that a Russian warship locked onto the French aircraft using a fire-control radar while it was monitoring underwater infrastructure over international waters. This type of radar lock is typically a precursor to potential engagement, raising concerns about escalating tensions in the region.

French military officials condemned the incident, calling it a “noticeably aggressive and unjustified attempt to obstruct the freedom of navigation in international airspace.”

The encounter took place as the French aircraft was patrolling as part of NATO's efforts to safeguard critical maritime infrastructure in the region. French officials stated that a Russian warship locked onto the aircraft with targeting radar—a tactic typically associated with missile targeting.

“This type of deliberate and unjustified action aims to obstruct the freedom of navigation in international waters,” the French General Staff said.

The security of underwater infrastructure has become a growing concern for Baltic NATO members, with regional leaders discussing the threat at a January summit of NATO’s Baltic member states attended by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal.

On December 27, 2024, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that the alliance would bolster its military presence in the Baltic Sea following suspected sabotage of undersea cables between Estonia and Finland. The decision came after his conversation with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who is overseeing the ongoing investigation.