Nato forces intercepted Russian strategic bombers and fighter jets over the Baltic Sea on Monday, in a show of air power on the alliance’s eastern flank. French Rafale fighters, stationed at a Lithuanian air base for Nato's air-policing mission, were scrambled alongside aircraft from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Denmark, and Romania.
The Russian formation comprised two supersonic Tu-22M3 bombers and approximately 10 fighters (SU-30s and SU-35s) that alternately escorted the larger aircraft, the French detachment confirmed. Russia's Defence Ministry stated the flight was scheduled, occurring in neutral airspace and lasting over four hours.
The ministry noted that at certain stages the bombers were accompanied by foreign fighters, but asserted that all flights comply with international rules. Nato routinely scrambles jets to intercept Russian planes that often fail to use transponders or communicate with air traffic controllers.
A journalist from The Associated Press witnessed the French response from Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania. Two Rafale crews, already suited up, raced to their hangars and took off within minutes after being scrambled.
Monday's flight was the latest in a series of Russian manoeuvres over the Baltic. Lithuania's defence ministry said Nato jets were scrambled four times from April 13-19 to intercept Russian aircraft violating flight rules.
