NATO fighter jets intercepted Russian aircraft three times over the Baltic region
Last week, NATO fighter jets were scrambled three times in response to the appearance of Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea. The Alliance identified fighter jets, transport aircraft, and reconnaissance planes flying near the airspace of the Baltic states.
NATO fighter jets, which are conducting air policing missions in the Baltic states, took off three times last week to identify and escort Russian military aircraft. The first such sortie took place on July 13. At that time, NATO fighter jets scrambled in response to two Russian Su-30 fighter jets flying from the Kaliningrad region toward mainland Russia.
According to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, both aircraft had their radar transponders activated and were in contact with the Regional Air Traffic Control Center. However, they did not submit flight plans. The following day, July 14, NATO aircraft were scrambled again due to a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft. It took off from the Kaliningrad region and later returned.
This time, the situation was more complicated. The aircraft was flying with its transponder turned off, without a flight plan, and did not establish contact with the Regional Air Traffic Control Center. On the same day, NATO fighter jets identified another Russian aircraft—an Il-76 military transport plane. It was en route from Russian territory to the Kaliningrad region.
According to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense, the transport aircraft was flying with its transponder activated and maintained radio contact with air traffic controllers, but it also did not have a flight plan. Another incident occurred at the end of the week. On Friday, NATO aircraft escorted a Russian Il-20M reconnaissance aircraft. It was flying without its transponder activated and without a submitted flight plan, but this time it maintained communication with the Regional Flight Control Center.
The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense noted that all Russian aircraft flights took place in international airspace. The mission of the NATO fighter jets was to identify the aircraft in a timely manner and escort them as they flew near the airspace of the Baltic states.
The NATO Air Policing Mission operates on a permanent basis in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Since these countries do not have their own combat aircraft, NATO allies provide airspace protection and regularly respond to the appearance of Russian military aircraft near NATO borders. This was reported by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.
The first service members of the German brigade, which will be deployed in Lithuania, will move to the Rudninkai military base as early as the fall of 2026.
