Just hours after a Kremlin fighter jet collided with a US Reaper drone over the Black Sea, the RAF and German air force intercepted a Russian aircraft flying close to Estonian airspace. The "routine inspection" saw a pair of British and German Typhoon jets react to a Russian air-to-air refueling aircraft after it failed to communicate with Estonian air traffic control in what was the first joint Nato air policing mission. For the first time, British pilots are conducting joint air policing missions in the country alongside the German air force. It comes as the United Kingdom prepares to take over as NATO commander in Estonia, which borders Russia. The Ministry of Defence emphasized the mission's "routine" nature, but it comes amid tensions between the West and Russia over the invasion of Ukraine.
"NATO continues to form the bedrock of our collective security," said armed forces minister James Heappey. "This joint deployment of the United Kingdom and Germany in the Baltics clearly demonstrates our collective resolve to challenge any potential threat to Nato's borders while demonstrating our combined strength." "We were scrambled to intercept an aircraft that was approaching Estonian airspace," said a Typhoon pilot from the RAF's IX(Bomber) Squadron, who requested anonymity. We identified and tracked it as it flew close to NATO airspace. "Any aircraft that are not communicating with Air Traffic Control or on a recognised flight plan will be intercepted by us to ensure we know who they are and maintain flight safety for all airspace users. "As a fighter pilot, this was routine business, even though I was flying alongside a German colleague. "It was clear that all of our preparation and hard work paid off as we worked together seamlessly." Commander of the RAF's 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, Wing Commander Scott Maccoll, said it had been "great" to see UK and German forces "operate as one team". Details of the mission were revealed amid a fresh reminder of Russia-US tensions after a Russian fighter jet collided with the propeller of a US surveillance drone over the Black Sea. The United States called it a "brazen violation of international law," prompting American forces to shoot down the unmanned aerial vehicle. Moscow claimed the US drone maneuvered sharply and crashed into water after colliding with Russian fighter jets scrambled to intercept it near Crimea, but insisted its planes did not fire weapons or hit the drone. The incident appeared to be the first time a US aircraft was brought down after colliding with a Russian warplane since the Cold War's height.
By Covenantblog
