On January 31 – February 6 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled once to intercept military aircraft of the Russian Federation in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea that were violating international aviation flight rules.
On February 3 the NATO Air Policing fighter aircraft intercepted one TU-154 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad with its onboard transponder on, according to a pre-filed flight plan and maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. It was escorted by SU-35, MIG-31 Su-27 flying in pairs that were also identified. None had their onboard transponders on, pre-filed flight plans, nor maintained radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
