NATO planes intercept Russian reconnaissance aircraft over Baltic

A Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea region has prompted fighter jets from several NATO countries to be deployed.

Interceptors from northern Germany, Sweden and the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission took off to secure the alliance's airspace and escort the Russian IL-20M maritime reconnaissance aircraft out of the area, the German Air Force announced on Saturday on the platform X.

"The aircraft was flying without a flight plan and contact with civilian air traffic control," it added.

Russia uses international airspace for military flights in accordance with applicable aviation law.

However, the German Armed Forces have said that Russian military aircraft almost always fly without an identification signal from their transponders, which makes them invisible to civilian air traffic control.

The flights bring Russian aircraft close to NATO airspace without actually violating it. It is presumed that Moscow uses the flights to test the alliance's reactions.