NATO’s F-35 jets deployed in Poland intercept Russian aircraft near Baltic Sea: reports

Two F-35 stealth jets of the Italian Air Force, stationed in Poland under NATO’s air policing mission, have intercepted two unidentified aircraft, likely Russian, near the Baltic Sea, according to news outlets.

The F-35 stealth jet.

US Air Force / Ministerie van Defensie, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The incident took place on September 21, Polish state news agency PAP reported on Monday.

The two Italian F-35s took flight from Poland’s Malbork Air Base to intercept the two aircraft and then escorted them out of NATO airspace, according to Italy’s ANSA news agency.

The intercepted aircraft originated from Russia, ANSA added, citing anonymous sources.

NATO stands unwavering in securing European airspace as F-35 jets in Poland swiftly respond to Russian aircraft flying too close to the border over the Baltic Sea. #military #NATO #Airspace #Securityhttps://t.co/aoPuNjRzNF

— Robert Morton (@Robert4787) September 25, 2023

It’s another such incident since Russia’s February 2022 full-scale aggression against Ukraine, the PAP news agency reported.

In October 2022, four NATO Eurofighter Typhoon jets from the Italian air force stationed in Poland intercepted four Russian fighter planes which had entered Polish airspace, and forced them to return to base, news outlets reported at the time.

BREAKING:

Italy sends F-35 jets to Poland to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank in the face of Russian aggression in the region.

Grazie Meloni! Grazie Italia!

🇮🇹🇵🇱 pic.twitter.com/zMxJYhzCOm

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 14, 2023

Tuesday is day 580 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.

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Source: PAP, Air Force Technology