On May 10 – 16, fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled three times to identify and escort military aircraft of the Russian Federation in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea.
On May fighter detachment conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states intercepted one AN-72 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad with its onboard transponder off, without the flight plan, but maintaining communication with the regional air traffic control center.
On May 12 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted one SU-24MR and two SU-27s flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea from Kaliningrad and back to Kaliningrad. Their onboard transponder was off, the crews did not keep radio contact with the regional air traffic control centre and had no flight plans.
On May 14 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted the following aircraft flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia: one AN-30 with its onboard transponder on, according to a pre-filed flight plan, maintaining radio communication; two SU-24MRs without the onboard transponders, without maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre, without the flight plan; and two SU-35 flying from mainland Russia into international airspace and back to mainland Russia, with their onboard transponder on, not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre, without the flight plan.
Photo: MoD archive (credit: A.Pliadis)
