NATO fighters scrambled four times to intercept Russian aircraft

NATO fighter jets conducting air policing missions over the Baltic states scrambled four times last week to identify and escort Russian aircraft that violated flight rules, the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence reported on Monday.

On June 22, NATO jets intercepted two Russian Su-30SM fighter jets flying without transponders, flight plans, and maintaining no radio contact with the Regional Air Traffic Control Centre (RSVC). The same day, a Russian Tu-154 passenger aircraft was identified—it was flying with its transponder on, had a flight plan, and maintained radio contact with RSVC.

On June 23, NATO fighters were scrambled to identify a Russian Il-18 passenger aircraft, which was also flying with its transponder activated, had a flight plan, and maintained radio contact with RSVC.

On June 24, NATO jets intercepted two Russian Il-76 transport aircraft. Both had their transponders on and maintained radio contact with RSVC, though one lacked a flight plan.

On June 27, NATO fighters again scrambled to intercept two Su-30SM aircraft, which were flying without transponders, flight plans, or radio contact with RSVC.

The NATO air policing mission in the Baltic states is carried out from bases in Lithuania and Estonia.