Portuguese fourth-generation F-16AM fighters intercepted and monitored a Russian Il-76TD aircraft in the skies over the Baltic Sea. The crews of the combat vehicles escorted the transport aircraft out of the control zone, and the footage went viral on social networks.
Just a few days ago, the Italian Air Force handed over duty over the Baltic to the Portuguese Air Force as part of the Baltic Air Policing mission of NATO air patrols.
The Portuguese unit consists of four F-16AM fighters and about 100 military personnel. It should be noted that domestic aircraft fly exclusively in international airspace.
After identifying and escorting the "air cruiser" to the borders of the Kaliningrad region, the Portuguese fighters safely returned to the Ämari airbase.
As a reminder, the Il-76 is equipped with two onboard cranes, two winches, and a rear ramp with a lifting capacity of up to 30 tons. The maximum payload is 46 tons, the flight range with a payload of 40 tons is 3,900 km, and the flight crew consists of 5 people.
