NATO Air Command said on August 28 that two Italian F-35 fighter jets scrambled from Amari Air Base in Estonia to intercept a Russian military aircraft operating near Alliance airspace.
According to the command, the jets were deployed under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission after radar systems detected the approach of a Russian An-124 Condor heavy transport plane. The aircraft was tracked as it flew over international waters but without a flight plan, without activating a transponder, and without communication with air traffic control.
The F-35s, operated by Task Force Air units from Italy’s 32nd and 6th Wings, intercepted the Russian aircraft to ensure safe monitoring of its flight path. NATO said the operation demonstrated the Alliance’s commitment to protecting the Baltic states and maintaining security on the eastern flank.
The deployment of Italian fighter jets to Estonia is part of NATO’s standing mission to safeguard airspace over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, where the alliance rotates contributing air forces. Italy’s participation at Ämari Air Base underscores NATO’s integrated approach to collective defense, with member nations sharing responsibility for deterrence and vigilance along the alliance’s borders.
The An-124 Condor, designed for strategic airlift, is one of the largest military transport aircraft in service worldwide. The Russian aircraft was escorted until it cleared the monitored area. NATO said its fighters returned safely to base following the mission.
Italian pilots have previously flown multiple intercept missions in the region, supporting Allied partners in response to increased Russian military activity near the Baltic states. These flights have included encounters with fighter jets, bombers, and transport aircraft.