Comment on Russian MiG-31s Enter Estonian Airspace, Italian F-35s Scramble to Intercept by DMH

['David Cenciotti', "Stefano D'Urso", '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow', 'Class', 'Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus', 'Display Inline', '.Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar', 'Where Img', 'Height Auto Max-Width', 'Vertical-Align Bottom .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Coauthors.Is-Layout-Flow .Wp-Block-Co-Authors-Plus-Avatar'] Comments for The Aviationist 2025-09-19 00:00:00

Three Russian MiG-31 Foxhound fighters violated Estonian airspace, prompting the scramble of two Italian F-35s to intercept them. Two F-35A Lightning II of the Italian Air Force currently deployed to Ämari Air Base, Estonia, to support NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, were scrambled to intercept them. The Estonian government stated that three Russian Foxhounds entered Estonian airspace near Vaindloo Island today, remaining inside for about 12 minutes. The Russian MiG-31s were first escorted by Finnish Air Force fighters and then by the Italian Air Force F-35 fighters which escorted them out of Estonian airspace towards the Kaliningrad region, said Karotamm. A handover ceremony on Aug. 1, 2025, marked the formal transfer of responsibility from the Portuguese Air Force to the Italian Air Force.