NATO: Russian military planes over Europe

An unusual level of activity of Russian planes over Europe was detected at the end of October.

NATO detected and monitored four groups of Russian military aircraft conducting significant military manoeuvers in European airspace over the Baltic Sea, North Sea/Atlantic Ocean, and Black Sea on 28 and 29 October, Korrespondent quotes NATO Allied Command Operations.

According to NATO's reports, at approximately 3:00 a.m. CET on 29 October, NATO radars detected and tracked eight Russian aircraft flying in formation over the North Sea. F-16 aircraft from the Royal Norwegian Air Force were scrambled, intercepted and identified the Russian aircraft.

The group included four Tu-95 Bear H strategic bombers and four Il-78 tanker aircraft. The formation flew from mainland Russia over the Norwegian Sea in international airspace. Over the Atlantic Ocean west of Portugal, two Russian aircraft were intercepted and identified by the Portuguese Air Force.

During the afternoon of 29 October, NATO radars detected and tracked four Russian aircraft flying over the Black Sea in international air space, including 2 Tu-95 Bear-H bombers and 2 Su-27 Flanker fighter jets. A number Russian aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea in international airspace, including 2x MiG-31 Foxhound, 2x Su-34 Fullback, 1x Su-27 Flanker and 2x Su-24 Fencer jets were detected and tracked, NATO informs.

Seven Russian combat aircraft flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea were detected and tracked on October 28, according to NATO.

NATO Allied Command Operations calls this air activity unusual.