On July 15 – 21 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 July 15 NATO Baltic air policing fighter aircraft intercepted two TU-160 aircraft and two SU-27 fighters escorting them, and one A-50 heading south of the mainland of the Russian Federation. None of the aircraft kept radio contact with the regional air traffic control centre and none had flight plans. Only one of all the aircraft, one of the TU-160s, had its onboard transponder on.
On July 15 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted two Su-35s flying from the mainland of the Russian Federation south to meet the returning two TU-160s and one A-50. Neither of the two Su-35s had their onboard transponders on, kept radio communication or had the flight plans.
On July 18 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted one AN-24 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad with its onboard transponder malfunctioning, according to a flight plan, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On July 19 NATO air policing fighter aircraft intercepted one AN-24 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia with onboard transponder off, according to a pre-filed flight plan, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
Related photo, credit: Filip Modrzejewski
