Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters from the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) based in Estonia have intercepted Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea, in response to their approaching NATO airspace.
Two separate intercepts occurred on 9 December, according to the Netherlands’ defence ministry. In both cases, two of the RNLAF fighters were scrambled for a so-called quick reaction alert mission in response to unidentified aircraft approaching NATO airspace.
The first incident involved an Antonov An-72 transport jet and a Sukhoi Su-24MR, according to the Netherlands’ defence ministry. Amsterdam describes the specialised Su-24 variant as a “reconnaissance aircraft that collects electronic intelligence”.
Photos of the action released by the ministry show an F-35A shadowing both the twin-engined, swept-wing Su-24 and the highly-recognisable An-72 airframe, with twin jet engines distinctively mounted above the type’s high-wing.
A second incident later in the day saw the intercept of an Ilyushin Il-20 turboprop – another electronic surveillance platform.
“This is why our people are there: protecting our common airspace against Russian threats,” Dutch defence minister Ruben Brekelmans said on 9 December. “The Russian armed forces are active in all kinds of ways in the vicinity of NATO airspace.”
Both intercepts were made over international waters, with the Dutch F-35s escorting the Russian aircraft “to the border of the NATO area of responsibility”, Amsterdam says.
A detachment of four RNLAF F-35A fighters arrived in Estonia at the start of December to support NATO’s air policing mission along the Russian frontier.
“Our allies in the Baltic states are happy with our commitment,” Brekelmans says. “I am proud of our people who were able to show their value to our safety right away.”
