British and German fighter jets scrambled to intercept a Russian aircraft flying close to Estonia airspace, officials said Wednesday.

This transpired right after Russia downed a US drone earlier this week.

The Royal and German air forces were conducting planned joint NATO Air Policing near Estonia, when they each launched a Typhoon jet from Amari Air Base on Tuesday to intercept a Russian air-to-air refuelling aircraft that was flying between St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad, the British Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The IL78 Midas had failed to communicate with Estonia air traffic control, forcing the ally jets to be scrambled, it said.

“We identified and monitored it as it transited close to NATO airspace,” said an unnamed fighter pilot from IX (Bomber) Squadron, operating as part of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, who was on Quick Reaction Alert duty when the scramble was called.

NATO fighter jets are scrambled hundreds of times a year to intercept. In 2021, NATO combat jets were scrambled 370 times across Europe, with 290 of those missions in response to Russian aircraft, according to NATO data.

CURRENTPH NEWS SERVICE