On May 25 – 31, 2020, NATO fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states carried out five alert scrambles to identify and escort military aircraft of the Russian Federation in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.
On May 25 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission intercepted one AN-26 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia according to a pre-filed flight plan, its onboard transponder was off, the crew kept radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On May 27 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercepted what was deemed to be a Russian SU-27 flying from Kaliningrad, the aircraft turned back in the Lithuanian Flight Information Region and returned to Kaliningrad. The aircraft did not have the flight plan, its onboard transponder was off, the crew did not keep radio communication. NATO air policing fighter crews did not intercepted the aircraft.
On May 27 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted one SU-30SM flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad with its onboard transponder on, according to a flight plan, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On May 28 d NATO fighters intercepted one AN-12 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad and one AN-26 flying from Kaliningrad to the mainland of the Russian Federation. Onboard transponders of both aircraft were switched off, the crews had pre-filed flight plans, and maintained radio communication.
On May 28 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted one AN-12 and one AN-26 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad, and one AN-12 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia. Onboard transponders of all the three aircraft were switched off, the crews had pre-filed flight plans, and maintained radio communication.
Related image, credit: Antanas Giedrimas/Lithuanian Air Force
