Russia has deployed six Su-27 warplanes to Belarus to “counter the massing of forces on the border."
The six Russian Sukhoi-27 Flankers accompanied three support transport planes to Bobruisk airfield in eastern Belarus, following President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s request for help against any potential NATO threat.
PHOTO: Russian #AirForce Su-27 fighter jets deployed at Babruysk in Belarus carrying live missiles. pic.twitter.com/3JhjfCSVRT
— Missilito (@Missilito) March 14, 2014The Su-27s were spotted carrying live missiles. This is Russia’s standard peacetime Quick Reaction Alert configuration, and it is similar to that of many other air forces around the world.
The deployment is a response to NATO's deployment of U.S. F-16s to Poland and E-3 AWACS to Poland and Romania. Tensions in the region are high ahead of the referendum on March 16 that will decide whether Crimea will join Russia.