Russian Su-27 fighter intercepts Swedish reconnaissance aircraft
A Swedish Golfstream reconnaissance aircraft was detected in the airspace over the Baltic Sea near the Russian border. Su-27 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the reconnaissance aircraft, the Russian Defense Ministry’s Information and Mass Communications Department reported.
"Russian airspace control means over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea detected an air target approaching the state border of the Russian Federation. Su-27 fighter jets of the air defense forces were sent into the sky to intercept the target," the statement added.
The Su-27 approached the target at a safe distance and identified it as a Swedish Air Force Gulfstream reconnaissance aircraft, which was flying with its transponder switched off.
After the foreign aircraft left Russian airspace, the fighter jet returned safely to the airport, the Defense Ministry added.