NATO Says 90 Percent Of Air Intercepts In 2020 Involved Russian Planes
A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System assigned to the 965th Airborne Air Control Squadron, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., takes off from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, during Red Flag 17-3 June 13, 2017. The E-3 is a mobile command and control platform that provides control anywhere in the world at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dustin Mullen)
This article was originally published Dec. 28, 2020, by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
NATO says it scrambled its air forces across Europe more than 400 times this year to intercept unknown aircraft — mainly from Russia — approaching the alliance’s airspace.
The Western security alliance said in a statement on December 28 that almost 90 percent of the missions were in response to flights by Russian military aircraft. The overall total is a slight increase from the previous year.
“In recent years, we have seen an increased level of Russian military air activity close to the alliance’s borders,” said NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu.
“We are always vigilant. NATO fighter jets are on duty around the clock, ready to scramble in case of suspicious or unannounced flights near the airspace of our allies. Air policing is an important way in which NATO provides security for our members,” she added.
NATO said that Russian military aircraft often do not transmit a transponder code indicating their position and altitude, do not file a flight plan, or do not communicate with air-traffic controllers, posing a potential risk to civilian airliners.
The alliance has about 40 air-surveillance radars and reporting hubs across Europe, and about 60 NATO jets that are on duty around the clock to serve as a quick-response force for aircraft which fall into distress or defy international flying rules near NATO airspace.
Since 2004, NATO also has operated a Baltic air-policing mission for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, as well as air-policing coverage for allies in the Western Balkans who do not have fighter jets of their own.
Copyright (c)2020 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036.
Coffee or Die is Black Rifle Coffee Company’s online lifestyle magazine. Launched in June 2018, the magazine covers a variety of topics that generally focus on the people, places, or things that are interesting, entertaining, or informative to America’s coffee drinkers — often going to dangerous or austere locations to report those stories.
Lucas O'Hara of Grizzly Forge has teamed up with BRCC for a badass, exclusive Shirt Club T-shirt design featuring his most popular knife and tiomahawk.
Coffee or Die sits down with one of the graphic designers behind Black Rifle Coffee's signature look and vibe.
Biden will award the Medal of Honor to a Vietnam War Army helicopter pilot who risked his life to save a reconnaissance team from almost certain death.
Ever wonder how much Jack Mandaville would f*ck sh*t up if he went back in time? The American Revolution didn't even see him coming.
A nearly 200-year-old West Point time capsule that at first appeared to yield little more than dust contains hidden treasure, the US Military Academy said.
Since the 1920s, a low-tech tabletop replica of an aircraft carrier’s flight deck has been an essential tool in coordinating air operations.
For nearly as long as the Army-Navy football rivalry, the academies’ hoofed mascots have stared each other down from the sidelines. Here are their stories.
Zelenskyy said on his Telegram channel the weapon was produced by Ukraine’s Ministry of Strategic Industries but gave no other details.
