NATO F-16 Jets Intercept Russian Spy Plane, Latvia Says

NATO fighter jets intercepted a Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea, the latest in a spate of similar incidents that have grown in frequency during the conflict in Ukraine.

F-16s based in the Baltic region intercepted a Russian IL-20 surveillance plane, Latvias army said today on its Twitter account. The encounter took place near Latvias territorial waters, it said. Ukraines military said Russias airforce had put some of its units on high alert. A spokesman for Russias armed forces said by phone that he wasnt able to comment.

The increased activity coincides with wrangling between Russia, the U.S. and the European Union over the future of Ukraine, where a September cease-fire is wobbling. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization tracked Russian military planes that included fighter jets, long-range bombers and tankers over the Baltic region, the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean for three days in late October.

Russian Air Force command put units of military transport planes near the Moscow and Ryazan regions on high alert, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told reporters today in Kiev. IL-76 transport planes may be used to bring troops and equipment to Ukraines border, he said.

NATO says interceptions in 2014 have now reached 100, three times last years total. The alliance pledged in September to bolster the defenses of frontline states in eastern Europe in response to Russian actions in Ukraine.

Russian military aircraft flying without using on-board transponders pose a potential risk to civil aviation as civilian air traffic control cannot detect these aircraft or ensure there is no interference with civilian air traffic, NATO said Oct. 30.

An SAS Group plane flying from Copenhagen to Rome in March had to change course to avoid a collision with an IL-20, Swedish broadcaster SVT reported May 8, citing the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority.

The tensions havent been confined to northern Europe, a Russian hydrographic ship was detected on Nov. 4 in Portugals exclusive economic zone and was escorted by a Portuguese navy ship, Radio Renascenca reported yesterday on its website, citing Portuguese Defense Minister Jose Pedro Aguiar Branco.

To contact the reporters on this story: Ott Ummelas in Tallinn at oummelas@bloomberg.net; Aaron Eglitis in Riga at aeglitis@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Balazs Penz at bpenz@bloomberg.net Andrew Langley, Michael Winfrey

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NATO F-16 Jets Intercept Russian Spy Plane, Latvia Says