Mission took place as part of Operation Enhanced Air Policing 2025
Two Portuguese F-16Ms were activated earlier this week to intercept a Russian aircraft flying over international airspace and not complying with air traffic regulations. The mission took place as part of Operation Enhanced Air Policing 2025, a NATO initiative designed to guarantee the security and integrity of the Alliance’s airspace.
The alert was given early on Monday morning by the Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany, following detection of the aircraft, essentially flying ‘rogue’. In response, two F-16Ms took off from Amari Air Base in Estonia to accompany plane “and ensure that the situation was resolved”, says a statement by the Portuguese Air Force
The Portuguese mission in Estonia has been underway since the start of this month, and involves four F-16M fighter jets and up to 95 military personnel. The aim of the air policing operation is to reinforce NATO’s security by ensuring constant vigilance over the Baltic region’s airspace, explains the air force, which concludes its short statement saying Monday’s operation “underlines the Portuguese Air Force’s high operational capability in international missions, consolidating the country’s role in fulfilling NATO’s responsibilities in terms of air defence and security”.
Source: Portuguese Air Force
