An image released by the Dutch defense ministry of an F35 and a Russian aircraft.Dutch Ministry of DefenseA series of NATO air policing missions around Estonia has seen F-35 and Rafale jets called into action.French Rafale jets intercepted a Russian IL-18 aircraft off Estonia's coast on Friday.Dutch F-35s intercepted three Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea last week.A series of recent NATO air policing missions around Estonia has seen Dutch and French fighter jets called into action to intercept Russian aircraft.Two French Rafale jets intercepted a Russian Ilyushin Il-18 airliner off the coast of Estonia on Friday, the General Staff of the French Armed Forces said in a post on X.NATO Air Command said the mission was the Rafale's first scramble since it began an air policing mission based out of Šiauliai, Lithuania.It comes after Dutch F-35 fighter jets intercepted a number of Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea last week.The Dutch defense ministry said two F-35s stationed in Estonia were scrambled after three Russian planes — an Antonov An-72, a Su-24, and an Ilyushin Il-20 — were identified in the region.Dutch F-35s have been keeping a watch over NATO airspace on the alliance's eastern flank since the start of December, the ministry said.It's not the first time such an incident has occurred in recent months.Norwegian F-35s were called into action in November in response to Russian aircraft "not adhering to international norms" off the coast of Norway, NATO's Air Command said at the time.Italy's air force also intercepted a Russian Coot-A plane flying over the Baltic Sea on the same day.