Sun Latvia: NATO fighters took off to intercept Russian aircraft
Latvian military told that NATO Fighters Were scrambled to intercept the aircraft of the air forces of the Russian Federation.
The Baltic States do not have the aircraft, suitable for air patrols, for this reason, since April 2004 (after their entry into NATO) protection of airspace are in rotation planes of the North Atlantic countries of the Commonwealth.
in a statement posted on Twitter the Latvian army on Twitter, says that the Typhoon Fighter jets for the protection of the airspace of the Baltic sea on March 17 Were raised to intercept 4 (fighter) su-27, 2 (aircraft transport aircraft An-26, and one (military transport) An-12 ".
messages about similar incidents appear in Twitter VS Latvia periodically. The Typhoon fighter jets also flew to intercept the Il-20 to the Russian air force 9, 13 and 27 February and 10 March. First of 3 and 6 February Fighters North Atlantic Commonwealth Were raised the alarm after over the Baltic sea was recorded Russian military transport aircraft Il-76 and anti-submarine aircraft Il-38.
the Russian defense Ministry has stated many times that all flights of the aircraft of the air forces of the Russian Federation have been performed in strict accordance with international rules on the use of airspace over neutral waters, without violating the borders of other countries.
before NATO said about the activity of Russian air force in the European airspace, for example over the Baltic sea. Russian air force commander Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev called such message news "items" designed to divert attention from the buildup of NATO forces close to Russia's borders.
in connection with the situation around Ukraine, NATO has adopted a number of measures which explains the need to provide security of the participating countries. Were strengthened mission for the air policing of the Baltic States (in the Alliance since 2004), the aircraft with radar equipment make regular flights over Poland (joined in 1999) and Romania (joined in 2004), the additional NATO ships in the Baltic and Mediterranean seas.