Don’t Mess With NATO – Dutch F-35 Fighters Scrambled to Intercept Russian Aircraft Near Polish Border – Two Dutch Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters were scrambled on Monday to intercept a formation of three Russian military aircraft flying near the Polish border from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, the Netherlands’ defense ministry announced.
The Dutch aircraft had been deployed to Poland as part of an ongoing NATO policing mission in Eastern Europe and the Baltic region.
Kaliningrad is the Russian Baltic coast exclave located between Poland and Lithuania, both of which are NATO and European Union (EU) member states.
From Russian bases, the Kremlin reportedly launched three jets – including a spy plane and two fighters.
The F-35s were scrambled as the Russian aircraft neared Polish airspace.
“After identification, it turned out to be three aircraft: a Russian IL-20M Coot-A that was escorted by two Su-27 Flankers. The Dutch F-35s escorted the formation from a distance and handed over the escort to NATO partners,” the Dutch ministry said in a statement, according to a report from Reuters.
F-35 Air Policing Missions
Eight Dutch F-35s are currently stationed in Poland.
Those aircraft arrived earlier this month, and four are now deployed to monitor the airspace in the region, while the additional four are conducting training operations but could be used in combat sorties if necessary.
This was the first time the Dutch aircraft carried out such an interception, known as a Quick Reaction Alert.
The F-35 Lightning IIs were also supported by a number of German Eurofighters that reportedly scrambled from bases in Germany. NATO Air Command announced via social media that the Russian aircraft had posed a danger to other air users by ignoring international air safety rules.
Going Dutch
The Netherlands was the second international partner to receive the F-35, and it continues to serve as a key contributor to the production and sustainment of the program.
The Dutch government has announced plans to add additional Lightning II aircraft to increase the nation’s capability and capacity to engage in allied operations.
As of this year, the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) operates the F-35A – the conventional takeoff and landing variant of the Joint Strike Fighter. The first F-35 RNLAF squadron operates out of Leeuwarden Air Base. In the future, Volkel Air Base will also be home to the F-35.
The Dutch program of record is for 52 of the fifth-generation stealth aircraft, which are now operated by a number of NATO and partner nations.
Currently, more than 25 suppliers from across the Dutch industry are participating in critical technology development and strategic structural design ventures integral to the F-35 program.
Every F-35 in service also contains components manufactured by companies based in the Netherlands.
The eight RNLAF F-35s will continue to monitor NATO airspace and conduct air policing operations until the end of March.
BONUS: Kamala Harris Should Quit
BONUS: A Nuclear War over Ukraine?
BONUS: Donald Trump Looks Desperate
Author Experience and Expertise
A Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.
