A French Navy Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft was illuminated by the fire-control radar of a Russian long-range air defense system, while flying over the Baltic Sea earlier this week, according to France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu.

A French Atlantique 2 aircraft patrolling international airspace over the Baltic was targeted by the fire-control system of a Russian S-400 launcher.

A French patrol aircraft operating in international airspace over the Baltic Sea as part of a NATO observation mission was detected by the radar of the Russian S-400 air defense system. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned this action,

NATO has launched a mission to safeguard critical underwater infrastructure on the Baltic Sea floor. The operation follows previous incidents of interruptions to submarine cables, most likely planned by Russia.

NATO is stepping up its response over what it sees as an increasing threat to vital infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Its new mission "Baltic Sentry" aims to protect undersea cables from sabotage after a spate of alleged attacks with a Russia-linked so-called shadow fleet involved.