On April 27– May 3, 2020, NATO fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled four times to identify and escort military aircraft of the Russian Federation in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.
On April 27 NATO Baltic Air Policing fighter aircraft intercepted one AN-26 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia according to a pre-filed flight plan, its onboard transponder was off, the crew maintained radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On April 28 NATO fighter jets intercepted two TU-160 aircraft flying together with two SU-35s from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad. The SU-35s did not use their onboard transponders, did not have flight plans, and did not maintain radio communication. The TU-160s had their onboard transponders on but no flight plans and were not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On April 28 NATO fighters intercepted one A-50 escorted by two SU-27s, flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia. The A-50 had its onboard transponder off, had a pre-filed flight plan, and kept radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. The SU-27s had not flight plans, their radio transponders were off, radio communication was not kept.
On April 29 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted one AN-12 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad, the aircraft turned around in the airspace over Kaliningrad and headed back to the mainland of Russian Federation. Its onboard transponder was off, the flight was conducted according to a pre-filed flight plan, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
Related image, credit: Antanas Giedrimas/Lithuanian Air Force
