British And Swedish Fighter Jets Intercepted Russian Tu-22M3 Bombers Over Baltic Sea

It was the third interception in the last two days.

British Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets and Swedish Air Force Gripen fighter jets intercepted two Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers over the Baltic Sea on June 10. The British Air Force claims it was the third interception in the last two days.

The bombers approaching NATO airspace over the Baltic Sea were escorted by two Russian Su-30SM fighter jets.

A picture of one of the intercepted Tu-22Ms shows a missile very similar to the Russian Kh-32 cruise missile. Although these munitions were created to combat aircraft carriers, the Russians used the Kh-22/Kh-32 missiles type to strike ground targets in Ukraine. In particular, they destroyed the Amstor Mall in Kremenchuk and its visitors (the blow killed 21 people).

British Typhoons are on duty over the Baltic Sea, this is provided for by obligations to their NATO allies - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The Baltic Air Patrol program provides that fighters from NATO countries are on duty in the skies over these countries in turn until the three Baltic states acquire their own fighters.