Jakarta, CNN Indonesia –
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) deploy fighter jet up to 10 times to track and prevent military aircraft Russia which flew over the North Sea, Black Sea and Baltic Sea, Monday (29/3).
The activity of Russian fighter jets and bombers in European skies occurred on the same day that North American Aerospace Defense Command admitted tracking Russian planes off the coast of Alaska.
“NATO aircraft intercepted six different groups of Russian military aircraft near the alliance’s airspace in less than six hours,” the organization said in a statement. CNN.
None of the Russian planes entered the national airspace of NATO countries in Europe and the interception was deemed safe.
The Norwegian F-16 immediately moved after radar detected two Russian military aircraft near their coastline.
Norway intercepted two Tu-95 Bear bombers flying south over the North Sea.
“Intercepting several Russian aircraft groups demonstrates the readiness and capability of NATO forces to guard the allied skies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year,” said Deputy Chief of Staff Operations at Allied Air Command Brigadier General Andrew Hansen.
The Russian maneuvers also prompted Britain to send Typhoon planes. Likewise Belgium which deployed F-16 fighter jets.
Norwegian F-16s then intercepted two Tu-160 bombers in nearby international waters.
Then separately, NATO radar also detected three Russian military aircraft near allied airspace in the Black Sea that were being tracked by Turkish, Romanian and Bulgarian warplanes until they left the area.
NATO aircraft were deployed more than 400 times in 2020 to intercept unidentified aircraft. Of that number, about 90 percent responded to Russian aircraft flights.
NATO says Russian flights often pose a risk to civilian air traffic in Europe because they often fly without transmitting a transponder code indicating position and altitude.
In addition, they do not submit flight plans or communicate with air traffic controllers.
CNN reported on Saturday that the United States is preparing for a covert war game this summer where the main focus of the scenario is how they should respond to aggressive actions and unpredictable moves by China and Russia.
At a NATO meeting in Brussels last week US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia had carried out reckless and hostile actions. He said Moscow had built up strength, large-scale exercises and acts of intimidation, in the Baltic and Black Seas.
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