Russian military aircraft fly close to NATO warships all the time, top commander says

"The maritime group is one of NATO's naval quick reaction forces, and it includes the German Sachsen-class frigate FGS Hamburg that Russia buzzed in mid-September. The Russian aircraft - an Ilyushin Il-20 surveillance and reconnaissance plane built in the Soviet Union - flew alongside the Hamburg and was a "hindrance" to the warship from around 600 meters away, Warnaar said. Berlin condemned the encounter, which followed a string of Russian drone and aircraft incursions into NATO airspace earlier this month."

""It happens regularly," the commander said. "It is reported on every once in a while, but not continuously." This isn't new, he said. "This has happened continuously throughout the last years." These encounters involve a range of aircraft beyond the Il-20, known to NATO as the Coot-A, and include Sukhoi Su-"

Close encounters between Russian military aircraft and NATO warships have become routine across Europe's seas. A Russian Ilyushin Il-20 surveillance and reconnaissance plane flew alongside the German Sachsen-class frigate FGS Hamburg at around 600 meters in the Baltic Sea. Berlin condemned the incident amid a series of Russian drone and aircraft incursions into NATO airspace this month. NATO maritime quick reaction forces operate in the region and include Standing NATO Maritime Group 1. Fly-by activity has occurred regularly since Russia's 2014 invasion and annexation of Crimea, happening roughly weekly and involving a range of aircraft including Il-20s and Sukhoi models.

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