Three russian MiG-31 fighters violated Estonian airspace for 12 minutes. While several Western media outlets initially reported that the jets were flying towards Tallinn, russia ultimately only increased tensions over Estonian territorial waters in the Baltic Sea.
According to Estonian EER, on Friday, September 19, three russian MiG-31s violated the airspace near the small island of Vaindloo in the Baltic Sea, 26 km from the coast and 100 km from the country's capital. The incursion lasted 12 minutes. At the same time, russian pilots did not respond to any communications on all frequencies. Politico reports that F-35s were scrambled to intercept the aircraft and remove them from Estonian airspace.
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From Defense Express we would like to note that these were Italian Air Force F-35s assigned to the 32nd Wing detachment. They are currently based at Ämari Air Base in Estonia and regularly take off to escort russian aircraft. For instance, on August 13, the aircraft took off to intercept russian Su-24 and Su-33 bombers. The latter aircraft were part of the Admiral Kuznetsov Wing.
Previously, airspace violations were short and systematic, but this 12-minute incursion indicates a deliberate escalation, undertaken with the understanding that there would be no consequences.
The fact is that NATO countries continue to use peacetime procedures. According to these procedures, any violators of airspace must first be identified. In the event of radio silence by the violator, as occurred this time, intercepting aircraft must approach and display ICAO-approved signals, such as wing rocking and flashing navigation lights.
This explains why the F-35s flying in the sky did not prevent russians from violating airspace.
It is also worth noting that Estonia's air defense capabilities are very poor. In fact, it does not exist. Currently in service are Mistral and Piorun man-portable air-defense systems (some of which have been transferred to Ukraine), along with a number of ZU-23-2 twin-barreled anti-aircraft autocannons. The country does not have any combat aircraft, possessing only a single light transport plane, the PZL M28 Skytruck.
The Estonian Ministry of Defense only decided to acquire anti-aircraft missile systems in April this year. These are long-range systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. The candidates were the American Patriot, the French-Italian SAMP/T, and the Israeli David's Sling. However, since then, there have been no reports of progress in strengthening Estonia's air defense.
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