A Russian refuelling plane flying near Estonian airspace has been intercepted by RAF and German fighter jets, just a day after a US drone got entangled over the Black Sea with Putin’s own military aircraft. British and German typhoons were scrambled on Tuesday to address an Il-78 Midas refuelling plane flying between St Petersburg and Kaliningrad, after it failed to communicate with air traffic control in Estonia. The Typhoons were stationed together in Estonia as part of a world first NATO joint mission.
The two NATO fighter jets intercepted the Russian Ilyushin Il-78, named Midas by the alliance, as part of a “routine” mission, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The four-engined aerial tanker, which refuels Russian fighter jets while in flight, was not regarded with serious suspicion, though it had not alerted Estonian air traffic control to its presence, and has little to no offensive capabilities.
The incident is notable as it was the first time the two NATO member states had conducted a joint aerial military operation together, and in direct response to Russia.
The jets are part of the RAF’s 140 Expeditionary Air Wing and the German 71 Tactical Air Wing Richthofen.
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