The exclusive Russian aircraft Tu-134A-4 “Black Pearl” was intercepted over the Baltic Sea by Eurofighter Typhoons of the Italian Air Force.
According to information from the website The Aviationist, the Italian jets are deployed for NATO’s Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission and for Operation Eastern Sentry in Ämari, Estonia.
NATO Air Command shared the images on social media on November 21, 2025, showing the Russian jet Tupolev Tu-134UBL (better known as Tu-134A-4) accompanied by two Su-30SM2 of the Russian Navy, as well as a Su-24MR Fencer.
“Over the last week, Italian jets deployed in Ämari [Estonia] were scrambled to intercept multiple Russian assets. NATO Air Policing in the Baltic region ensures the security of NATO airspace under Operation Eastern Sentry. Operation Eastern Sentry is enhancing the flexibility and strength of NATO’s posture on the eastern flank.”
This is the second time since February 2020 that the rare Russian aircraft has been intercepted. The twin-engine jet is a derivative of the Soviet-era narrow-body commercial aircraft Tu-134, which made its first flight in July 1963.
Over the last week 🇮🇹 jets deployed at Amari 🇪🇪scrambled to intercept multiple 🇷🇺 assets. NATO Air Policing in the Baltic region ensures security of @NATO airspace under Eastern Sentry#EasternSentry is enhancing flexibility and strength to NATO’s posture on the eastern flank pic.twitter.com/UElLnTi7VJ
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) November 21, 2025
Photo: NATO Air Command. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
