Official NATO press releases or announcements

French Atlantique 2 Targeted by Russian S400 Radar in Intimidation Move Over Baltic Sea

Jan 17, 2025, 09:14 AM

A French military aircraft, an Atlantique 2, was targeted by Russian forces while conducting a NATO surveillance mission over the Baltic Sea. The incident occurred on January 15, 2025, when the aircraft, which had departed from Brittany, was subjected to electronic jamming and targeted by a fire-control radar, specifically an S400 system, a process known as 'illumination.' The French Armed Forces General Staff reported that the aircraft was on a mission to monitor approximately 200 vessels in the region, in response to recent damages to undersea cables suspected to be caused by Russia. Colonel Guillaume Vernet, spokesperson for the French military, described the act as an aggressive action, though not uncommon in the area. French Defence Minister stated that the aircraft was the target of Russian intimidation measures, labeling the action as unacceptable. The professionalism of the French crew prevented any escalation, despite the heightened tensions. The incident comes amidst ongoing concerns over sabotage of critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea, with several cables damaged in recent months.