Sweden and Finland intercept Russian
Photo: Johan Nilsson / TT

Sweden and Finland intercept Russian military aircraft in joint Gulf of Finland operation

For the first time, Swedish and Finnish aircraft have been sent up together to intercept and identify Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Gulf of Finland. There were several Russian planes, and it is not something we see every day, says Niclas Magnusson, Deputy Chief of the Air Force at the Swedish Armed Forces.

The operation was led by Finland and during the operation, three different types of Russian aircraft were identified - a transport aircraft and two fighter aircraft of the types MiG-31 and Su-27.

According to the Armed Forces, the Russian planes were in international airspace, but since they did not know where they were heading, they decided to meet them.

This is the first time we have made such an effort together and a way for us to show our cooperation and that we can carry this out together, says Niclas Magnusson.

Deepened cooperation

Two Swedish and two Finnish aircraft participated in the operation, which was part of Swedish-Finnish cooperation to monitor and safeguard territorial integrity.

"We have been practising together with Finland for a long time. Now we have also received a political mandate to carry out this type of operation in a critical situation," says Magnusson.

Kristersson: We are stronger together

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) has also commented on the effort and believes that it is an expression of the strength of Nordic cooperation.

"In a tense security situation, we are stronger together. The Baltic Sea has never been as vulnerable as it is now - but it has never been better protected than right now," he writes on X.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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