Tuesday, October 11 2011.

A Dutch F-16 fighter intercepted two Russian TU-95 Bear aircraft flying into the Dutch NATO zone this afternoon.

The Quick Reaction Alert caught up with the Bears at the border of the area The Netherlands is responsible for in NATO. Air Operations Controls Station ‘Nieuw-Milligen (AOCS NM) ordered the Dutch F-16 to dispatch to the Russian bombers that were already under observation by two RAF Tornado’s of the British Quick Reaction Alert.

The Bears were accompanied until they left the Dutch zone, where the Danish Air Force took over.

In the last months the Dutch air force intercepted multiple Russian military aircraft that flew into the Dutch NATO zone without identifying themselves.

Text and photo by M. van Leeuwen