KAM: NATO fighter jets four times scrambled to identify and escort Russian aircraft

NATO's Baltic air policing mission intercepted and escorted four Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea in the past week, according to Lithuania's Ministry of National Defence. The incidents involved fighter jets identifying and monitoring Russian planes operating in international airspace.

On Monday, NATO fighters identified an IL-20 aircraft flying from mainland Russia to the Kaliningrad region. The ministry reported that this aircraft was operating without an active radar transponder, lacked a flight plan, and did not maintain radio communication with the regional air traffic control center.

Similar intercepts occurred on Tuesday and Thursday. On Tuesday, an SU-30SM fighter jet flying to and from Kaliningrad was escorted. The ministry stated this aircraft was also flying without a transponder or flight plan and without radio contact.

On Thursday, another SU-30SM flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad was intercepted. The following Saturday, a fourth aircraft, an SU-30M, flying from Kaliningrad back to mainland Russia, was also identified by NATO fighters. For these flights on Thursday and Saturday, the aircraft reportedly had their transponders switched on but still lacked flight plans and did not communicate with air traffic control.

NATO has been conducting air policing missions in the Baltic states since March 2004, when Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia joined the alliance. Since then, air forces from numerous NATO member countries have participated in patrols over the Baltic region.