Rome, August 15 - On August 13, 2025, the Italian Air Force deployed two F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters from Ämari Air Base in Estonia to intercept Russian military aircraft operating near NATO airspace, marking a significant operational debut for Italy’s fifth-generation jets in the Baltic Air Policing mission. The Italian contingent, led by the 32nd Wing, had taken over the mission from the Portuguese Air Force earlier that month as part of NATO’s ongoing effort to secure the skies over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The Russian aircraft, identified as an Antonov An-12 transport plane and an accompanying Sukhoi Su-30 “Flanker-C” fighter, were detected flying over international waters in the Baltic Sea without submitting flight plans or maintaining communication with regional air traffic control. Such activities, common in recent years, are often interpreted as Russian attempts to test NATO’s response times and air defense capabilities, prompting swift action from the Italian detachment.
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The NATO Baltic Air Policing mission, initiated in 2004, provides air defense for the Baltic states, which lack indigenous fighter capabilities, relying on rotating NATO member contributions. The Italian F-35s, operating under the direction of NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany, were scrambled as part of the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) system, designed to respond rapidly to unidentified or non-compliant aircraft. On this occasion, the F-35s, leveraging their advanced stealth, sensor fusion, and networked data capabilities, successfully located and shadowed the Russian aircraft, ensuring they did not encroach on NATO airspace. The An-12, typically used for transport but capable of reconnaissance roles, and the Su-30, a multirole fighter with advanced radar and weaponry, were likely conducting a coordinated mission to probe NATO’s defensive posture. The Italian jets’ ability to track and monitor these aircraft highlighted the F-35’s role in enhancing NATO’s situational awareness and deterrence.
This interception underscores the strategic significance of the Baltic region, where Russian military activity has surged amid heightened geopolitical tensions. The Russian aircraft originated from the Kaliningrad exclave, a heavily militarized Russian territory bordered by NATO members Poland and Lithuania, enabling rapid deployments close to Alliance borders. The Italian F-35s’ deployment in Estonia, as part of Operation Baltic Eagle III, reflects NATO’s commitment to maintaining a robust presence in this sensitive area. The F-35’s advanced radar and electro-optical systems allowed the Italian pilots to gather critical intelligence on the Russian aircraft’s behavior, including their flight paths and potential mission objectives, which was relayed to NATO command for further analysis. This incident follows a pattern of Russian flights near NATO airspace, often involving a mix of transport, reconnaissance, and fighter aircraft, aimed at assessing the Alliance’s readiness.
The successful mission by the Italian F-35s on August 13, 2025, reinforces NATO’s collective defense framework and Italy’s growing contribution to it, building on previous Baltic deployments with Eurofighter Typhoons in 2018 and 2021. The use of F-35s, with their superior stealth and data-sharing capabilities, elevates NATO’s ability to counter sophisticated aerial threats in a contested environment. This interception, occurring shortly after similar missions by other NATO allies, illustrates the high operational demands placed on air policing units in the Baltic region. As Russian provocations continue to challenge NATO’s resolve, the Italian Air Force’s swift and effective response demonstrates the Alliance’s readiness to protect its airspace and deter potential aggression, ensuring stability in a region critical to European security.