NATO jets scrambled six times to identify Russian aircraft
Tuesday 29th September 2026 on 00:00 in
Lithuania
NATO fighter jets scrambled six times last week to identify and escort Russian aircraft that violated flight rules, LRT reported, citing Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence.
On September 21, the jets flew to identify an IL-20 Russian reconnaissance aircraft. It was flying without an activated transponder or a flight plan, but maintained radio contact with the Regional Air Traffic Control Centre. NATO fighters also patrolled near the Latvia-Belarus border that day.
On September 22, NATO jets scrambled to identify two SU-30 aircraft. Neither had an activated transponder or a flight plan, and neither maintained radio contact with the centre.
On September 24, the jets flew to identify three MIG-31 aircraft, a TU-134 passenger aircraft, an SU-30SM multirole fighter and three SU-30M2 aircraft. None had a flight plan or an activated transponder; only the TU-134 maintained radio contact with the centre.
Later that day, NATO fighters flew to identify an SU-35, two SU-30M2 aircraft and an IL-20 Russian reconnaissance aircraft. The aircraft had no activated transponders or flight plans and did not maintain radio contact with the centre.
On September 26, the jets flew to identify an SU-24 attack aircraft. It was also flying without an activated transponder or a flight plan and did not maintain radio contact with the centre.
NATO’s air policing mission in the Baltic states operates from Lithuania and Estonia.