NATO has scrambled jets for the third time in as many days after another Russian plane strayed into its territory.
The military pact was forced to respond to a reported spy plane sighting over the Baltic Sea today after the aircraft appeared to be drifting without a detailed flight plan.
According to the German Delegation to NATO, the aircraft was an Ilyushin Il-20M, a Soviet-era plane bristling with intelligence gear, including radar, signals intelligence and electronic warfare systems.
The planes are typically deployed to track communications and air defences, and the one detected this weekend had reportedly lifted off from Russia before entering international airspace, but without establishing any communication.
At the same time, the aircraft was also said to have failed to make v