French navy plane targeted by Russian forces

Key information

• French naval aircraft suffered radio jamming and radar targeting by Russian forces on January 15 while monitoring submarine cables in international waters.
• The incident was described as an aggressive act by French military officials, but did not escalate due to the professional behavior of the French crew.
• This type of incident is considered “quite serious” but is unfortunately not unique, with several similar incidents reported in recent months involving damaged submarine telecommunications and power cables in the Baltic Sea.

Incident details

A French navy aircraft participating in NATO operations to monitor submarine cables in the Baltic Sea was targeted by Russian forces on January 15. During its surveillance mission, the aircraft experienced radio jamming and was illuminated by a radar designed for targeting. The incident occurred in international waters and was described as an aggressive act by French military officials.

Response from the French authorities and NATO

The spokesperson for the French armed forces, Colonel Guillaume Vernet, described the action as “illuminating” our aircraft by radar while it was operating in international waters. In military terminology, “illumination” refers to targeting a specific object using radar. Vernet said such actions are not uncommon in this region and indicate that Russia is not remaining passive.

Climbing and investigations

While the Russian government expressed its disapproval of the presence of the French plane in a measured manner, the professional behavior of the French crew helped prevent any escalation of the situation. The crew successfully continued their mission while avoiding further conflict. Vernet stressed that a direct attack on a NATO aircraft could lead to a rapid and serious escalation with the alliance, a consequence that Russia likely wants to avoid.

Broader context

This type of incident involving a French plane is considered “quite serious” but is unfortunately not unique. General Christopher Cavoli, commander of NATO forces in Europe, acknowledged this during a press conference in Brussels. He said such incidents are common and extend beyond Europe’s borders. The French Atlantic 2 plane left Brittany on Wednesday. During its nearly five-hour operation off the coast of Sweden and the Baltics, it monitored around 200 vessels, mainly civilian vessels. However, no suspicious activity was detected.

Recent incidents in the Baltic Sea

Recent months have seen several incidents involving damaged submarine telecommunications and power cables in the Baltic Sea. European leaders and experts suspect the damage is part of a “hybrid war” orchestrated by Russia. Notably, on December 25, the EstLink 2 power cable connecting Finland and Estonia, as well as four other communications cables, were damaged. These incidents follow similar damage to two communications cables in Swedish waters a few weeks earlier. Finnish police have opened an investigation into the alleged sabotage of these cables. She believes the Eagle S, a Cook Islands-flagged tanker potentially part of Russia’s “ghost fleet”, is involved. The vessel has been impounded for further examination as part of the ongoing investigation.

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