Yesterday, russia’s armed forces tried to prompt NATO's air defenses on in the Baltic direction. First, a formation consisting of three MiG-31 fighters and one Il-62M transport aircraft took off, later two more MiG-31s and two Su-27s joined them.
But apparently, the NATO "air police" forces in the Baltic states were not at all impressed by such a demonstration of force by the russians, only two German Eurofighter fighters took to the air to intercept and escort russian planes. This is stated in the message of the NATO Allied Air Command.
Read more: Ukrainian Air Force Hints That Not Only MiG-29s Used to Launch HARM Missiles
Polish Defence24 adds that NATO "air police" planes are now based at the Emari airfield in Estonia. And in addition to the German Eurofighters, there are also the JAS 39 Gripen of the Hungarian Air Force. In addition, the patrols are also carried out by Gripens of the Czech Air Force, which are currently in Lithuania's Šiauliai.
In this context Defense Express reminds that on August 17 Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR MOU) reported about moving of a significant number of russia’s aircraft from the temporarily occupied Crimea to the mainland. The list included three MiG-31 attack aircraft that flew to Kushchevsk and Gelendzhik.
MiG-31 attack aircraft left the peninsula in order not to be destroyed in the conditions of real hostilities. Instead, russia decided to use this type aircraft to threaten NATO on the western flank, but rather unsuccessfully.
According to The Military Balance, by the end of 2021, the russian Armed Forces had 85 MiG-31 aircraft in service.
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