MOSCOW, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- A Russian fighter jet was scrambled on Monday to accompany a German patrol plane over the Baltic Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

Russian airspace control detected a target approaching the Russian state border over the Baltic Sea and a Su-27 fighter took off in response, the ministry said in a statement.

After identifying the object as a P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft of the German Navy, the Russian crew escorted the plane until it flew away from the Russian state border, the statement said.

The escort mission was carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters, the statement added.