On June 22-28 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states carried out 6 alert scrambles to identify and escort military aircraft of the Russian Federation in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea.
On June 22 NATO air policing aircraft intercepted one AN-26 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia with its onboard transponder off, according to a pre-filed flight plan, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On June 22 aircraft conducting the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission intercepted one AN-26 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad without using its onboard transponder, according to a pre-filed flight plan, keeping radio contact with the regional air traffic control centre.
On June 25 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept a IL-18 as the flight plan stated but the aircraft was identified to be IL-20RT flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad with its onboard transponder on, according to a flight plan, maintaining radio communication. NATO aircraft also intercepted two SU-27s flying from Kaliningrad to meet one TU-134 flying from mainland Russia, none of the aircraft had flight plans, their onboard transponders were of, none maintained radio communication. All the aircraft returned to Kaliningrad.
On June 25 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted a group of aircraft: one TU-134 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad with its onboard transponder on, according to a flight plan, maintaining radio communication, and two SU-35s escorting it from mainland Russia that later returned there. The latter had no flight plans, their onboard transponders were off, radio contact was not kept.
On June 27 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted one IL-76 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia with its onboard transponder on, according to a pre-filed flight plan, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On June 27 NATO fighter jets intercepted a group of aircraft: one TU-134 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia, its onboard transponder was on, it had a pre-filed flight plan, the crew maintained radio communication; and two SU-35s escorting the TU-134 from mainland Russia that then flew back. The aircraft had no flight plans, did not use the onboard transponders, and did not maintain radio communication.
Related image, credit: Antanas Giedrimas/Lithuanian Air Force
