NATO Air Command confirmed that Italian Eurofighter Typhoon jets deployed to Amari Air Base in Estonia were scrambled at 11:30 a.m. on January 16 to intercept a Russian Be-200 aircraft approaching the Baltic Sea.
The interception formed part of NATO’s routine air policing mission in the region, designed to monitor and respond to military flights near Allied airspace. According to the alliance, the Russian aircraft was detected as it entered the Baltic Sea region without prior coordination, prompting the rapid reaction alert launch of the Italian fighters stationed in Estonia. NATO emphasized that the mission was carried out safely and in strict accordance with established procedures, ensuring continued vigilance over air activity near NATO borders.
“This incident underscores the importance of NATO’s air policing mission in the Baltic region,” NATO Air Command said. “Allied aircraft remain ready around the clock to respond to any potential airspace violations or uncoordinated military flights, ensuring the security of NATO airspace.”
The Russian aircraft involved was identified as a Be-200PS amphibious plane, tail number “21 Yellow,” operated by Russian Naval Aviation. The Be-200 is a relatively rare platform within Russia’s military inventory. Originally produced in limited numbers, it primarily served foreign customers or specialized civilian and government roles, rather than frontline military operations. Only recently has the aircraft been incorporated into Russian military units for specific maritime operational tasks.
The Be-200PS variant is tailored for search and rescue missions, maritime patrol, and support operations, rather than direct combat. Its amphibious design allows it to operate from both runways and water, giving it a niche capability in maritime environments. These missions reportedly include support for naval operations, potential evacuation tasks, and operations related to vessels linked to Russia’s “shadow fleet” of tankers in international waters.
Despite its specialized role, the Be-200 remains uncommon compared to the standard patrol aircraft used by Russia’s Aerospace Forces or Navy. Its adoption reflects Moscow’s effort to expand maritime surveillance and operational flexibility, particularly in strategically sensitive areas like the Baltic Sea.
NATO Air Command highlighted that this interception is part of a broader pattern of increased Russian military aviation activity near the alliance’s eastern flank. Since the beginning of 2025, NATO aircraft have executed more than 500 air policing scrambles across the alliance’s airspace, reflecting the sustained operational tempo of Russian flights in proximity to NATO territories. Air policing and enhanced vigilance activities remain ongoing, ensuring situational awareness and the readiness of Allied forces to respond to any airspace incursions.
The long-term outlook for the Be-200 fleet, however, remains uncertain due to technical constraints. The aircraft is powered by engines of Ukrainian origin, and Russia has not yet developed a fully domestic alternative. This has limited both production and modernization efforts, posing ongoing sustainment challenges as the existing engines age. Analysts note that while the Be-200 provides unique operational capabilities for maritime missions, its strategic impact is constrained by these logistical and technical hurdles.
The incident comes amid heightened NATO-Russia tensions in the Baltic region, where airspace monitoring and rapid response operations have become a routine element of maintaining regional security. NATO’s prompt interception of the Be-200 reflects the alliance’s continued commitment to safeguarding airspace and deterring unauthorized military flights in sensitive maritime and border regions.
