French Maritime Patrol Aircraft Faces S-400 Radar Lock-On Over Baltic Amid Cable Damage Probe

The Russian S-400 air defense system used its radar to track and guide anti-aircraft missiles toward the French maritime patrol aircraft Atlantique 2 during a NATO observation flight over the Baltic Sea, according to reports by Le Figaro.

The incident occurred while the Atlantique 2, which had taken off from Brittany with an AFP journalist on board, was conducting a surveillance mission in response to submarine cable damage in the region. Over nearly five hours, the aircraft monitored approximately 200 vessels, mostly civilian, but detected no suspicious activity.

French officials reported that the Atlantique 2 encountered electronic warfare (EW) attempts to disrupt its onboard systems, in addition to being tracked by radar to guide S-400 missiles. Colonel Guillaume Vernet, a spokesman for the French Army General Staff, labeled the radar lock-on as a hostile act, adding that professional handling by the crew prevented any escalation.

French Defense Minister condemned Russia’s actions as unacceptable, while NATO’s European Command leader, General Christopher Cavoli, described the event as serious but noted similar incidents occur globally.

“The fact that our aircraft in international waters are being ‘locked on’ by radar indicates aggressive actions. Russia is demonstrating its hostility in this way. Still, the professional behavior of the (French) crew allowed us to avoid any escalation,” Colonel Guillaume Vernet, spokesman for the French Army General Staff, explained.

The Atlantique 2, initially designed for anti-submarine warfare, has been upgraded into a versatile maritime patrol platform through the Standard 6 modernization program, initiated in 2013. Enhancements include the Thales Searchmaster radar, MX-20 optoelectronic sensor unit, digital acoustic signal processing, and advanced tactical computers.

These upgrades allow the aircraft to deploy precision-guided munitions such as Paveway laser-guided bombs, alongside its original anti-submarine torpedoes and Exocet anti-ship missiles.