Italian Eurofighter Typhoon fighters intercepted a rare Beriev Be-200 multi-role amphibious aircraft operated by the Russian Navy over the Baltic Sea. The incident occurred on 16 January 2026 at approximately 11:30 local time.
Two Italian Air Force F-2000A aircraft, deployed to Ämari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO’s enhanced Baltic Air Policing mission, were scrambled to identify and escort the Russian naval aviation aircraft as it approached the region’s airspace.
Official images released by NATO Allied Air Command show a Be-200PS aircraft flying in international airspace while being escorted by an Italian Eurofighter Typhoon.
While interceptions of Russian aircraft in the Baltic region occur on a regular basis, this case attracted particular attention due to the rarity of the Beriev Be-200 in service with the Russian Navy. The Be-200 Altair is a jet-powered amphibious aircraft developed by the Beriev Aircraft Company, designed for missions including firefighting, maritime patrol, search and rescue, and transport operations. It is considered one of the few modern serially produced jet aircraft in the flying boat category.
According to open-source information, the Russian Navy operates a very limited number of Be-200 aircraft. Various estimates suggest that between one and three aircraft of this type remain in service. One Be-200 was lost on 14 August 2021. The aircraft, tail number RF-88450 (“20 Yellow”), was operating in Turkey as part of an international wildfire suppression mission when it crashed in mountainous terrain during a sortie, resulting in the death of all eight crew members.
In addition, during the night of 8–9 March 2024, the Beriev Aircraft Company facility in Taganrog was reportedly struck by unmanned aerial vehicles. The attack was said to be directed primarily at A-50 aircraft undergoing maintenance at the site. The extent of damage to infrastructure and any potential impact on Be-200 aircraft that may have been present at the facility were not officially disclosed.
The Be-200 aircraft intercepted over the Baltic Sea, tail number RF-88456 (“21 Yellow”), conducted its maiden flight in 2020 and remains one of the newest examples of this type in service with the Russian Navy.
According to information from the Beriev Aircraft Company, the baseline configuration of the Be-200 is optimized for aerial firefighting using specialized liquid agents. The aircraft is capable of creating firebreaks, suppressing active fire zones, and transporting firefighting personnel and equipment by landing on water surfaces. The design incorporates a watertight fuselage, modern navigation and communication systems, and support for multiple cabin configurations, including passenger and combi layouts.
The Italian Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft involved in the interception have been performing Quick Reaction Alert duties as part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing (eAP) mission since 29 September 2025. They replaced F-35A Lightning II fighters, which had previously provided air policing coverage for a two-month period. During that deployment, Italian F-35A aircraft conducted approximately 10 scramble responses, flew more than 150 sorties, and accumulated around 300 flight hours.
According to NATO, Alliance aircraft conducted more than 500 interceptions and air policing sorties within the airspace of member states in 2025.
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Source: TheAviationist
