Italian Air Force F-35A pair from 32° Stormo (32nd Wing) scrambled from Ämari Air Base, Estonia, intercepting two Russian aircraft that had entered Estonian airspace over the Baltic Sea without authorization. Photos show a Russian Air Force Su-30SM (reg. RF-81759) from the 14th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment and a Russian Navy Su-24MR (reg. RF-33780).
Italy is currently deployed to NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) from Ämari, providing 24/7 Quick Reaction Alert under CAOC Uedem tasking. The Italian detachment stands ready to identify and escort aircraft flying without a filed flight plan, with transponders off, or not in contact with ATC—helping safeguard the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania within NATO’s Integrated Air & Missile Defence System.
Notably, the images were released via NATO’s official social media channels; the Italian Air Force rarely publishes this kind of close-up intercept photography.
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