F-35 intercept Russian aircraft: Italian F-35 fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft in first Baltic Air Policing mission

Two Italian Air Force F-35A Lightning II fighters were mixed with NATO’s Baltic Air Police Mission from the ämirari air base in Estonia. Jets, according to ITamilaradar’s report, were part of the Mission Force Air – 32nd Wing and 6th Wing, which was initiated in the Fast Reaction Warning (QRA) to cut off the unidentified Russian aircraft without flight plans and transponders closed.

During the mission, the Italian warriors seized a Russian AN-124 “Condor ından with a strategic transport plane flying in the international airspace near the Baltic region on the way to Kaliningrad. NATO said that the encounters with an An-124 are rare, because most of the interventions in this area usually contain SU-27 fighter aircraft or SU-24 bombardment plane.

Italy’s first Baltic Air Police Mission

This task has marked Italy’s first Baltic Air Policing operation since the Romanian Air Force took over NATO air defense tasks. The NATO AIR Command confirmed that it took place on August 13, 2025 and released a photo of an Italian F-35 flying next to the Russian SU-27 wing fighter aircraft, according to Aerotime’s report.
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The Italian Air Force praised Forze Armarat, and the pilots said that their professionalism neutralized a potential risk for NATO and emphasized the importance of continuous patrol to protect the Euro-Atlantic boundaries. Italy stressed that security comes from common national and international efforts and warned: iz We should never reduce our protection: deterrence peace and freedom is the most effective way to defend. ”

NATO Warrior Jets in Europe

At the end of July 2025, the Portuguese Air Force finished the four -month Baltic mission in Estonia and served to Italy. Before moving to Estonia, the Italian Air Force was flying Eurofighter Jets in Romania under NATO’s advanced air police mission. Since 2004, NATO has maintained the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania through the Baltic Air Police mission, which allied fighters returned to watch 7/24 throughout the year. For the first time in other NATO distribution, Spain sent six EF/A-18M Hornet to Iceland’s Keflavik Air Base. Spain and Hungarian jets took over the Baltic Air Police in Lithuania from Romania. While the German Air Force set up five Eurofighter spectrum in Romania, Britain ended the royal Air Force at Malbork in Poland.

FAQ

Quarter. Why did the Italian F-35 jets cut a Russian plane?
The Italian F-35s were mixed under NATO’s Baltic Air Police mission to cut a Russian plane flying without a flight plan and a Russian plane near the Baltic airspace.

S2. When did Italy Baltic Air seized the mission of policing?
After completing the four -month deployment of Portugal, Italy commanded NATO in late July of the Baltic Air Police Mission.