The cat-and-mouse game over Europe between Russian war planes and NATO fighter jets has prompted commentators to speculate whether it is all a gigantic plot to drain national air forces of fuel.
The latest antics over the Algarve would suggest that it could be.Russian Tupolev bombers “overflew” international air space under Portuguese jurisdiction for the second time last week, pushing further into national territory and only turning back after flying as far as Sagres.
The new incursion saw Portuguese F-16s based in Leiria racing to intercept, but this time both fighter jets ran out of fuel.
A third was bring scrambled as the Tupolevs turned back, leading one Portuguese leader writer to conclude “Russia’s strategy is to lead us all into bankruptcy!”
Correio da Manhã deputy editor Miguel Ganhão added: “If they continue with their flights over national territory, we won’t have any money left to fly our planes”.
https://www.portugalresident.com/russian-war-planes-drain-portuguese-fighters-of-fuel/
