In response to the appearance of a Russian Il-20M military aircraft in the airspace over the Baltic Sea, the German Air Force scrambled two Eurofighter fighters. This was reported by DPA, citing a representative of the country's air force.
The aircraft was moving in international airspace without a flight plan and did not make contact, it was not possible to immediately identify it.
The fighters took off from the Rostock-Laage airfield in northern Germany, after which they conducted a "visual identification" of the Russian aircraft.
The Russian Ministry of Defense has repeatedly emphasized that Russian military aircraft operate strictly according to international rules, do not cross foreign air routes and do not create dangerous encounters with aircraft of foreign states.
According to a number of experts, the Russian military aviation is thus demonstrating its presence and readiness to defend national interests. Such actions are seen as part of a broader strategy aimed at strengthening Russia's position in the international arena. Western countries, in turn, are closely monitoring the activity of Russian aviation and, if necessary, take retaliatory measures.
Il-20 (NATO codification Coot) is an electronic intelligence and electronic warfare aircraft developed by the Ilyushin Design Bureau based on the Il-18D passenger aircraft.
Earlier www1 reported that the 2S35 "Coalition-SV" self-propelled howitzer has never appeared in the Russian army.