The British Royal Air Force (RAF) has scrambled Typhoon fighter jets based at Ämari Air Base in Estonia to intercept Russian aircraft flying off the north coast of Estonia.
Fighter jets were launched to intercept two Russian SU-30 Flanker fighters, two SU-24 Fencer attack aircraft and an AN-12 transport aircraft.
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The Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) event represents the third time Typhoon jets in Estonia were scrambled since taking over the Nato Baltic Air Policing mission from the German Air Force.
Last month, RAF scrambled Typhoon jets out of Ämari Air Base in Estonia to intercept Russian aircraft flying along the Baltic coast.
British Armed Forces Minister Mark Lancaster said: “Our commitment to Nato and European security is unwavering and our brave RAF pilots have shown once again that we are ready to respond to any threat to the UK and its allies. Alongside our Nato allies, we must remain vigilant and aware of Russian military activity.”
“We were scrambled to intercept a group of four Russian fighters. The intercept was routine and we stayed with them for around 25 minutes during their transit from mainland Russia to the Kaliningrad oblast.”
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By GlobalDataAccording to a release by the UK Ministry of Defence, a Typhoon pilot from XI (Fighter) Squadron, attached to 121 Expeditionary Air Wing was conducting QRA duty when the scramble was launched.
Lancaster further added: “Once complete with this task we hauled off and conducted a further intercept of a Russian AN-12 aircraft travelling much lower and slower along the same route.”
The operation represents a routine Nato mission for the Typhoons to deter Russian aggression and provide reassurance to Nato allies.
