On March 15 – 21 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 the international airspace over the Baltic Sea.
On March 15 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states intercepted an IL-20 flying from the mainland of the Russian Federation to Kaliningrad, with its onboard transponder off, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre, according to a pre-filed flight plan.
On March 15 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted one IL-76 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad with its onboard transponder on, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre, without the flight plan.
On March 16 NATO air capabilities intercepted one IL-20 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia with its onboard transponder off, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre, according to a pre-filed flight plan.
On March 17 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted one An-26 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia , its onboard transponder was on, the crew maintained communication with the regional air traffic control centre, the flight was carried out in accordance with a pre-filed flight plan.
Illustrative image (MoD archive, by A.Gedrimas)
