World powers are reporting surges in airspace violations and instances where aircraft are scrambled to intercept foreign jets, amid a sharp rise in geopolitical tensions in Europe and Asia.
Nato member aircraft were forced to conduct more than 500 scrambles over Europe in 2014 – a fourfold increase on the previous year. Nearly 85% of these were to intercept Russian aircraft. This year, there have already been more than 300 scrambles, according to data provided by Nato to the Guardian. These are some of the highest numbers since the end of the cold war.
Russia alleges that Nato sorties near its borders doubled last year. Nato called the claim “deliberately vague”.
Elsewhere, Japan has been scrambling aircraft in record numbers because of Chinese activity. Airspace violations by Turkish aircraft over Greek waters increased three and a half times last year compared with the previous two years.
Although nearly all of these interventions are described by those close to operations as “almost routine”, several incidents reveal there is a risk of escalation because of the sheer volume of incidents.
Despite the increase in interceptions, Nato will be halving the number of aircraft used in its Baltic air-policing mission later this year.
The post Nato reports surge in jet interceptions as Russia tensions increase appeared first on Trunews:.
from Trunews: http://ift.tt/1P2jWun
via IFTTT
No comments:
Post a Comment