Finland has scrambled its F/A-18 combat jets to identify three Russia military aircraft above the Gulf of Finland.
"Finnish Air Force F/A-18s on #QRA [quick reaction alert] were scrambled on 15 July to identify Russian Tu-160, A-50 and Su-35 aircraft in international airspace above the Gulf of Finland and the northern part of the Baltic Sea," the Ukrainian-registered media outlet European Pravda reported, citing the Finnish Air Force's tweet.
The Finnish Air Force said the country's airspace had not been violated.
Finnish Air Force F/A-18s on #QRA were scrambled on 15 July to identify Russian Tu-160, A-50 and Su-35 aircraft in international airspace above the Gulf of Finland and the northern part of the Baltic Sea. The airspace of Finland was not violated. #FINAF#readinesspic.twitter.com/uCt3GNO8YO
— Ilmavoimat (@FinnishAirForce) July 15, 2019
The Tupolev Tu-160 is a supersonic, variable-sweep wing heavy strategic bomber designed by the Tupolev Design Bureau.
The Beriev A-50 is a Soviet airborne early warning and control aircraft based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport.
The Sukhoi Su-35 is the designation for two improved derivatives of the Su-27 air-defense fighter. They are single-seat, twin-engine, supermaneuverable aircraft, designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau.
