NATO fighters scrambled three times to intercept Russian aircraft

NATO fighter jets conducting air policing duties over the Baltic states scrambled three times last week to identify and escort Russian military aircraft flying in international airspace, the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence reported on Monday.

On July 13, NATO jets were scrambled to intercept two Su-30 fighter jets flying from Russia’s Kaliningrad region to mainland Russia. The aircraft had their transponders on but were flying without a flight plan, though they maintained radio contact with the Regional Air Traffic Control Centre (RSVC).

On July 14, NATO fighters identified an Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying from Kaliningrad to Kaliningrad without a transponder or flight plan and without radio contact with the RSVC. The same day, NATO jets also intercepted an Il-76 transport aircraft flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad with its transponder on but without a flight plan, while maintaining radio contact with the RSVC.

Additionally, on the previous Friday, NATO fighters were scrambled to identify an Il-20M reconnaissance aircraft flying without a transponder or flight plan but maintaining radio contact with the RSVC.

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