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Air Force Eurofighter: Russian machine “accompanied for a short time”

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Hauke-Christian Dittrich/dpa

A Russian Ilyushin 20 reconnaissance aircraft was once again discovered over the Baltic Sea flying without a detection signal. According to the Air Force, this triggered the start of the alarm squad at the Laage Air Base in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on Tuesday. The Russian military aircraft was "identified in international airspace off Rügen and briefly accompanied before it turned back east," according to a statement from the Air Force on the X platform (formerly Twitter). The plane was flying without a transponder signal.

There had already been an almost identical incident in April 2023. Almost a year ago, two Eurofighters were taken off because of a Russian plane.

The alarm squad usually consists of two Eurofighters that rise within minutes to check possible threats or, if necessary, ward them off. However, the mutual checks are largely routine.

sol/dpa