British Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter jets have ‘intercepted’ 21 Russian aircraft on the edge of NATO airspace over the past three weeks during a mission in Estonia, the Ministry of Defense said on Saturday.
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British Defense said the Russian aircraft in question included fighter jets, transport or intelligence-gathering planes, as well as Tu-22M long-range bombers.
“These intercepts are a stark reminder of the value of collective security and the deterrence that NATO provides,” UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said in a statement.
“The RAF has worked with our allies over the last three weeks to ensure that Member States and our partners are protected and they can ensure our continued support in strengthening European security alongside those who share our values,” he added.
Deployed to the Amari base in Estonia since March as part of Britain’s contribution to NATO missions, British Typhoons have taken off to monitor Russian planes when they fail to communicate with air carriers, posing a risk to aviation security. UK Ministry of Defence.
British aircraft were to remain in Estonia until August, when the aircraft would be released from the Spanish Army.
While stationed in Estonia, the Royal Air Force took part in a number of major exercises, one of which was described by London as the largest NATO air exercise since the end of the Cold War.
The show of strength and unity in the face of potential threats from Russia, amid the war in Ukraine, was described by its organizers as the largest air exercise in the alliance’s history, bringing together 250 military aircraft from 25 members. and member states, including NATO allies Japan and Sweden.
