The Russian Defence Ministry announced that the country’s tactical fighter jet exercises have begun over the Baltic Sea. The ministry stated on Tuesday, “The main goal of the exercise is to test the readiness of the flight crew to perform combat and special tasks as intended.”
The move comes a day after Moscow said its jets were positioned to intercept UK military planes over the Black Sea.
Andy Vermaut shares: 🔴 Live: Russia conducts fighter jet drills over Baltic Sea: Russia's defence ministry said early on Tuesday that it was conducting tactical fighter jet exercises over the Baltic Sea to test readiness for combat and special… Thanks. https://t.co/vyk9vgyJUX pic.twitter.com/lKKyoF32OC
— Andy Vermaut (@AndyVermaut) June 27, 2023
Russian Aircrafts Drills Over Baltic Sea
The Defence Ministry announced on its Telegram channel, “The crews of the Su-27 [fighter jets] of the Baltic Fleet fired from airborne weapons at cruise missiles and mock enemy aircraft.”
The ministry confirmed that, in addition to improving skills, Russian fighter pilots are on “round-the-clock combat duty” guarding Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave’s air space.
Kaliningrad, located on the Baltic coast between Poland and Lithuania, is Moscow’s westernmost state and was a part of Germany until the end of World War II. Russia stated last year that it has deployed jets armed with cutting-edge Kinzhal hypersonic missiles to the Chkalovsk airfield in Kaliningrad as part of its “strategic deterrence.”
On Monday, the Russian defence ministry claimed that it had scrambled two fighter jets as UK Typhoon warplanes approached its border above the Black Sea, adding that the planes had “turned around and distanced themselves from the Russian border” when Russian fighter planes intervened.
The ministry said the Typhoon planes accompanied an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft. “The Russian planes safely returned to their base [...] There was no violation of the Russian border.”
Russia intercepts UK spy plane
— RT (@RT_com) June 27, 2023
Two Su-27 fighters chased off a RAF surveillance flight over the Black Seahttps://t.co/PxfqmfWLLq pic.twitter.com/LeO1oLTVoy
Growing Interceptions Between Russia and the West
Interceptions between Russian and Western military aircraft have increased in recent months owing to rising tensions over Moscow’s conflict in Ukraine.
On Sunday, the UK Ministry of Defence announced that Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon fighter aircraft working with the NATO Baltic Air Policing operation in Estonia have scrambled to respond to Russian aircraft 21 times in the last 21 days.
“The RAF Typhoons launch to monitor the Russian aircraft when they do not talk to air traffic agencies, making them a flight safety hazard,” the ministry added.
UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said, “These intercepts are a stark reminder of the value of collective defence and deterrence provided by NATO.”
In May, Moscow announced that it had intercepted four US strategic bombers over the Baltic Sea in two instances within a week. A US Reaper military drone crashed in the Black Sea in April after colliding with two Russian fighters. Warplanes from Russia were also sent to intercept French, German, and Polish aircraft.