NATO fighters intercepted Russian reconnaissance aircraft over Baltic airspace

NATO air policing fighters scrambled once last week to identify and escort a Russian aircraft that violated flight rules, Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence said Monday, according to LRT.

On July 30, the fighters were deployed to identify an IL-20 reconnaissance aircraft flying through international airspace from mainland Russia to the Kaliningrad region.

The aircraft was not using its transponder or carrying a flight plan, but maintained radio contact with the Regional Air Traffic Control Centre.

NATO’s Baltic air policing mission operates from Lithuania and Estonia.