A NATO training flight over the Baltic Sea put the air defenses of the Russian army on alert last weekend. A B-52 long-range bomber, which can also carry cruise missiles with nuclear explosives, was on its way to Saint Petersburg. The US military jet turned only about 200 kilometers from the hometown of Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin.
Several media outlets in Russia reported on the flight, citing information from the Flightradar 24 platform. The bomber is said to have started in Moron, Spain, and then flew over Polish territory to the Baltic Sea.
After changing course, the fighter-bomber, codenamed Noble 61, traveled through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania before returning to the United Kingdom. Care was taken to fly the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad in a wider arc, it said.
Polish minister: “Security of NATO’s eastern flank”
Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak commented on Saturday’s training flight on his Twitter page: “Polish fighters escorted the US B-52 bomber. The flight was an important test for interoperability. Together we ensure the security of the eastern flank of the NATO.”
Russian newspaper: ‘Flight was checked, prepared for everything’
Mike Aaltola of the Finnish Institute of International Relations saw the flight as a “clear and chilling message” to Moscow after the “recent provocations”. He did not explain what he meant by that. The local St. Petersburg newspaper Fontanka reported that the Russian military was monitoring the entire flight, citing a “source familiar with the situation”. “The Baltic Fleet was prepared for all eventualities,” it said.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
