Dutch F-35 fighter jets were scrambled and intercepted a formation of Russian military planes flying near Polish airspace, said Dutch defense officials on Tuesday.
The Netherlands’ Ministry of Defense said that the three Russian jets were escorted out by two F-35 fighters.
“The-then unknown aircraft approached the Polish NATO area of responsibility from Kaliningrad,” the statement said. It was referring to the Russian enclave located between NATO members Poland and Lithuania along the Baltic Sea. The Netherlands, meanwhile, is a founding member of NATO.
“After identification, it turned out to be three aircraft: a Russian IL-20M Coot-A that was escorted by two Su-27 Flankers,” the Dutch ministry’s statement continued. “The Dutch F-35s escorted the formation from a distance and handed over the escort to NATO partners.”…