NATO Says It Has Intercepted 300 Russian Aircraft Over European Airspace In 2019

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NATO jets were scrambled earlier this week to respond to Russian aircraft, including two Tu-22 strategic bombers. (file photo)

Radio Free Europe: NATO Official Says Jets Intercepted Russian Aircraft In European Airspace Nearly 300 Times In 2019

NATO jets intercepted Russian planes flying close to NATO airspace nearly 300 times in 2019, an alliance official said, amid a continuing upward trend of Russian and NATO aircraft encounters.

The official, who spoke on condition he not be named, told RFE/RL’s Bulgarian Service that Russian military aircraft activity in the Black Sea and other parts of Europe had increased since 2014.

“In 2019, allied aircraft took to skies 290 times to escort or shadow Russian military aircraft all across Europe,” the official said in an e-mail on May 23.

He did not immediately respond to follow-up questions about encounters in past years.

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WNU Editor: 290 interceptions. That all?