German and Polish Forces Intercept Russian Jets Over International Waters
- NATO planes intercept two armed Russian supersonic missile carrier bomber jets.
- German Eurofighters in Austria were alerted about the aircraft and handed them over to Sweden.
- The incident highlights tensions between NATO and Russia in the region.
Two Russian fighter jets were intercepted by German NATO planes in Austria and subsequently handed over to a Swedish alert squadron, as reported by the German Air Force. The German Luftwaffe tweeted that their Eurofighter jets were activated by NATO's Combined Air Operations Centre to identify a group of Russian aircraft, which included two TU-22 BACKFIRE bombers and several SU FLANKER fighters. The tweet emphasized their commitment to "securing the skies" and highlighted NATO's collaborative defense efforts. The intercepted aircraft, the Tupolev TU-22M3, is a long-range strategic bomber developed in the 1960s, while the SU Flanker refers to the Sukhoi SU-27, designed to compete with advanced U.S. fighter jets. The Russian jets were reported to have departed from the Olenya airfield, with indications of a potential redeployment or training mission. In a separate incident, the Polish Army deployed two F-16 jets to monitor the Russian aircraft, which remained in international waters and did not breach Polish airspace. The Polish Army Operational Command confirmed the interception of an IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft, emphasizing that it was operating legally in international airspace without infringing on Polish territorial waters. The Polish military reiterated the importance of airspace security, stating that the effective functioning of their air defense system ensures protection against aerial threats, underscoring the nation's commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty.