At 11:30 on Friday (16), Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the Italian Air Force, stationed at the Ämari Air Base in Estonia, were launched to intercept a Russian aircraft approaching the Baltic Sea.
The interception was carried out as part of NATO’s Air Policing missions, which are responsible for ensuring continuous surveillance of the airspace of the Allies.
According to the Allied Air Command, the launch was caused by the approach of a Russian aircraft without proper communication with the regional air traffic control services.
The identified target was Beriev Be-200 of the Russian naval air arm, in the Be-200PS version, with registration RF-88456 (body no. 21 in yellow color). This is a relatively new multi-mission amphibious platform, which made its maiden flight in November 2020.
According to official data, in 2025 alone, more than 500 scrambles were performed throughout NATO airspace. Air Policing operations and enhanced surveillance activities maintain a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week alert as part of the alliance’s deterrence and rapid response strategy, in a security environment characterized by ongoing tensions on Europe’s eastern flank.
Source and photos: NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM). This content is generated with the help of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.
