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Two Belgian F-16s intercept Russian bombers over North Sea

March 30, 2021 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Two Belgian F-16s took off on Monday morning from Florennes Air Base to intercept Russian bombers approaching the Dutch airspace over the North Sea. The Russian aircraft were approaching Dutch airspace.

The two fighter jets intercepted the Russian Tupolev Tu-142s north of the Dutch coast and the Frisian islands of Terschelling and Ameland.

Both bombers flew without a transponder and approached Dutch airspace. The Tupolevs then set course to the United Kingdom and the F-16s could land back at Florennes around 12:00 PM.

Belgium is currently responsible for the defence of Benelux airspace.

It is now the second time that the F-16s have to go out to intercept Russian bombers. The previous time was on 15 January 2018.

Last year on April 21st, Belgian F-16 fighters intercepted armed Russian Su-24, Su-27 and Su-30SM fighters buzzing the US destroyer USS Donald Cook in the Baltic Sea when they were in Estonia as part of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission.


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