European air forces scrambled to intercept Russian military aircraft approaching allied airspace more than 300 times in 2023, according to NATO.
The news comes as Russia ramped up air strikes on Ukraine in new waves of attack.
NATO Says Allied Forces Intercepted More Than 300 Russian Aircraft in 2023
Most of the intercepts reported in 2023 were over the Baltic Sea, according to NATO.
Key Takeaways:
- European air forces conducted over 300 intercepts of Russian military aircraft in 2023, a decrease from 570 intercepts in 2022.
- Most intercepts occurred over the Baltic Sea due to Russian aircraft operating unpredictably without transmitting transponder codes, filing flight plans, or communicating with air traffic controllers.
- NATO considers these air policing missions crucial for allied security, having bolstered air defenses and conducted exercises in response to the dangerous security situation created by Russia's war against Ukraine, including recent border incidents.
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