Germany’s air force deployed two Eurofighter jets to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft that entered neutral airspace over the Baltic Sea, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday.
According to the German air force, NATO’s “quick reaction alert force” ordered the scramble after an unidentified aircraft was detected flying without a flight plan or radio communication. The plane was later identified as a Russian IL-20M reconnaissance aircraft. “After visual identification, we handed over escort duties to our Swedish NATO partners and returned to Rostock-Laage,” the statement said.
The incident comes just ahead of a scheduled NATO North Atlantic Council meeting on Tuesday, which will also review a separate violation involving Russian jets over Estonia. On Friday, Tallinn accused Moscow of an “unprecedented and brazen” breach of its airspace, alleging that three Russian MiG-31 fighters crossed its border and remained inside for 12 minutes.
The alleged incursion drew sharp criticism from NATO and European leaders, who called it a “reckless” and “dangerous provocation.” Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal urged urgent consultations under NATO’s Article 4, which allows member states to convene when their security or sovereignty is threatened.
Russia’s Defence Ministry has denied Estonia’s allegations, but Tallinn summoned Moscow’s charge d’affaires in protest.
These developments highlight escalating tensions along NATO’s eastern flank. Last week, Romania reported scrambling jets after detecting a Russian drone, while Poland earlier this month said its forces shot down multiple drones during a Russian strike on Ukraine — marking the first direct NATO engagement in the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine has argued that repeated airspace violations reflect Moscow’s efforts to probe NATO defenses and test Western resolve as the war against Russia enters its fourth year. Analysts note that such incursions often serve dual purposes — intelligence gathering and applying pressure on neighbouring states.
