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French Aircraft on NATO Mission Targeted by Russian S-400 in Aggressive Baltic Sea Incident

Jan 17, 2025, 10:34 AM

A French Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, engaged in a NATO surveillance mission over the Baltic Sea, was targeted by a Russian S-400 air defense system. The incident occurred during the night of January 15-16, 2025, while the aircraft was patrolling in international airspace as part of NATO's Baltic Sentry operation, aimed at protecting critical underwater infrastructure following recent damages to undersea cables attributed to Russia. The aircraft was subjected to jamming and was illuminated by the S-400's fire-control radar, indicating a potential threat. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the action as an 'aggressive Russian move' that is 'unacceptable.' Despite the incident, the French crew's professional response prevented any escalation, and the mission continued.