MOSCOW, January 16. /TASS/. A Su-27 jet fighter belonging to Russia’s Baltic Fleet detected a German Air Force P-3C Orion plane near the Russian state border and escorted him over the Baltic Sea, Russian National Defense Control Center told reporters Monday.

"On January 16, 2023, Russian airspace monitoring systems discovered an airborne target approaching the Russian state border. A Baltic Fleet Su-27 fighter on duty scrambled to identify the target and prevent it from crossing the state border," the Center said.

The Center added that the plane’s crew identified the airborne target as a German Air Force P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and escorted it over the Baltic Sea waters.

The Center noted that, after the foreign military plane turned away from the Russian state border, the Russian fighter returned to its home base. The state border was not violated.

"The sortie was carried out in strict compliance with international rules of use of airspace over neutral waters, without crossing air routes or dangerous approach to a foreign aircraft," the Center underscored.