Three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets stayed in NATO-member Estonia’s airspace for several minutes on Friday, Estonian authorities said as tensions mount between Russia and NATO members.
Three Russian fighter jets entered NATO-member Estonia’s airspace for 12 minutes on Friday, officials said in what was a push along the alliance’s eastern border.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said on X that three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace and lingered over the Gulf of Finland for twelve minutes.
The Russian charge d’affaires was summoned and handed a note of protest note, he added.
The jets lacked two-way radio communication with Estonian air traffic control and had no flight plans, Estonian media reported.
As tensions heighten after 12 Russian drones entered NATO-member Poland’s airspace on Sept. 10, is month, French jets were deployed on Friday to Poland for Eastern Sentry.
The French Air Force has deployed three Rafale fighter jets to Poland as part of the new NATO activity “Eastern Sentry”. The activity boosts NATO’s vigilance along the eastern flank.
The French pilots have two shifts running in Poland as part of the Quick Response Alert (QRA) with pilots on standby 24/7 to be ready to intercept any threat.
Working alongside the Polish Air Force and other NATO forces, the French Air Force is ready and able to perform any air-to-air interceptions, identify and, if necessary, intercept and destroy drones.
