Official NATO announcements or credible news sources reporting on NATO's military presence in the Baltic Sea region

French Aircraft Targeted by Russian S-400 System Over Baltic Sea During NATO Operation

Jan 17, 2025, 12:21 PM

A French Navy Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, operating under NATO's Baltic Sentry operation, was targeted by a Russian S-400 air defense system over the Baltic Sea. The incident occurred during the night of January 15-16, 2025, as the aircraft was patrolling international airspace. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the action as 'aggressive and unacceptable,' highlighting that the aircraft was illuminated by the S-400's fire control radar. The operation was part of NATO's efforts to monitor the region following recent damages to undersea cables, suspected to be acts of sabotage by Russia. The French aircraft, which had been scanning approximately 200 ships without identifying any threats, was subjected to both jamming attempts and radar targeting. The incident underscores ongoing tensions between NATO and Russia in the strategically important Baltic Sea region.