A Russian fighter jet violated Estonian airspace on March 18, in the first such incident recorded in 2026.
According to local authorities, the aircraft remained for around a minute over the region close to the island of Vaindloo, without prior authorization, which raised tension in the Baltic area.
According to the Estonian government, the jet did not present a flight plan and also did not maintain contact with air traffic control. The response was immediate: Italian Air Force aircraft, positioned at the Ämari base within the NATO air policing mission, were activated to carry out a reconnaissance mission.
The episode also had diplomatic repercussions. The Estonian Foreign Ministry summoned a representative of the Russian embassy and formalized a protest. Situations like this are closely monitored by NATO, which frequently deploys fighter jets to monitor Russian military activities close to its borders.
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The plane involved, the Su-30is a multi-mission fighter widely used by Russia and other countries. Known for its high maneuverability and ability to operate in different types of missions, the model remains in production and has several variants adapted to different needs, remaining a relevant part of Russian air power.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @NATO_AIRCOM | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
On Wednesday, 🇮🇹 fighter jets from@ItalianAirForcedeployed at Amari Air Base 🇪🇪 for @NATO enhanced Air Policing, intercepted a Russian 🇷🇺SU-30 Flanker H aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
The Italian jets launched the Alpha Scramble under NATO’s Eastern Sentry activities… pic.twitter.com/FKlMuvBXRF
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) March 20, 2026
