On February 28 – March 6 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled 18 times to patrol the Baltic airspace border with the Russian Federation and Belarus and to intercept military aircraft of the Russian Federation in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea that were flying in violation of international aviation flight rules.
On February 28 aircraft of the air detachment conducting the NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltic states flew the air patrol mission along the airspace border between Lithuania and the Russian Federation and Belarus. After the take-off, the mission was modified to alert scramble to carry out identification and interception: NATO fighter jets identified one SU-24M and two SU-27s flying in from Kaliningrad oblast, their onboard transponders were silent, no flight plans and no communication with the regional air traffic control centre was maintained.
On February 28 NATO fighter aircraft were conducting patrols by the Baltic airspace border with the Russian Federation and Belarus.
On March 1 NATO fighter jets intercepted one IL-76 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia with its onboard transponder switched off, without the flight plan, but keeping the contact with the regional air traffic control centre.
On March 1 NATO fighter aircraft were conducting patrols by the Baltic airspace border with the Russian Federation and Belarus.
On March 1 NATO fighter aircraft were conducting patrols by the Baltic airspace border with the Russian Federation and Belarus.
On March 2 NATO fighter aircraft were conducting patrols by the Baltic airspace border with the Russian Federation and Belarus.
On March 2 NATO air policing fighter aircraft intercepted one SU-24M and two SU-27 that took off from Kaliningrad. None had their onboard transponders on, flight plans of maintained radio communication.
On March 2 NATO fighter aircraft were conducting patrols by the Baltic airspace border with the Russian Federation and Belarus.
On March NATO air policing fighter jets were patrolling by the Baltic airspace border with the Russian Federation and Belarus.
On March 3 NATO air policing capabilities were scrambled to intercepted one AN-26 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad with its onboard transponder off, without the flight plan, but maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control. After completing the alert scramble, the mission was changed into air patrol alongside the Baltic airspace border with the Russian Federation and Belarus.
On March 4 flew the air patrol mission along the airspace border between Lithuania and the Russian Federation and Belarus. After the take-off, the mission was modified to alert scramble to carry out identification and interception: NATO fighter jets identified two SU-24 and two SU-27 flying from and back to Kaliningrad oblast. Their onboard transponders were off, no flight plans, no radio contact was maintained.
On March 4 NATO fighter aircraft were conducting patrols by the Baltic airspace border with the Russian Federation and Belarus.
On March 4 NATO fighter aircraft were conducting patrols by the Baltic airspace border with the Russian Federation and Belarus.
On March 4 NATO fighter aircraft flew the air patrol mission along the airspace border between Lithuania and the Russian Federation and Belarus. After the take-off, the mission was modified to alert scramble to carry out identification and interception – NATO fighter jets identified one IL-76 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia, its onboard transponder was off , the crew had no pre-filed plan but maintained the radio communication.
On March 5 NATO fighter aircraft were conducting patrols by the Baltic airspace border with the Russian Federation and Belarus.
On March 5 NATO fighter aircraft were conducting patrols by the Baltic airspace border with the Russian Federation and Belarus.
On March 6 NATO fighter aircraft were conducting patrols by the Baltic airspace border with the Russian Federation and Belarus.
On March 6 NATO fighter aircraft were conducting patrols by the Baltic airspace border with the Russian Federation and Belarus.
Photo: MoD archive
