At 11:30 on Friday (16), the Eurofighter Typhoon fighters of the Italian Air Force, deployed at the Ämari air base in Estonia, were taken off to intercept a Russian aircraft approaching the Baltic Sea.
The interception took place as part of NATO’s Air Policing missions, responsible for ensuring continuous surveillance of allied airspace.
According to the Allied Air Command, the intervention was triggered due to the approach of a Russian aircraft without adequate communications with regional air traffic control services.
The identified target was a Beriev Be-200 of the Russian Naval Aviation, Be-200PS variant, with serial number RF-88456 (Bort no. 21 Yellow). It is a relatively recent multimission amphibious platform, which made its maiden flight in November 2020.
According to official data, in 2025 alone, over 500 early warning (scramble) takeoffs have already been carried out throughout NATO airspace. Air Policing operations and enhanced surveillance activities maintain operational readiness 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as part of the Allied strategy of deterrence and rapid response in a security environment characterized by persistent tensions on the Eastern European flank.
Source and images: NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM). This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
