The Italian Air Force’s F-35 Lightning II made its first combat sortie in accordance with NATO’s enhanced air patrol directives. The reason was the appearance of Russian aircraft near the Alliance’s borders.
The fifth-generation fighter jets of the Italian Air Force are stationed at the Malbork air base in Poland. Last week, they were put on alert after unidentified Russian aircraft were spotted near NATO borders.
Two F-35 Lightning II fighters made their first combat flight. Later, NATO’s Air Operations Center found that two Russian fourth-generation Su-30 fighter jets were flying over the Baltic Sea.
The Russian side did not provide a flight plan, and the Su-30 pilots did not communicate. As a result, the F-35 Lightning IIs were able to intercept and escort the Russian aircraft until they left the area of responsibility.
