On January 19 – 25 fighter aircraft of the NATO Air Policing Detachment were scrambled in response to international flight regulation violations three times.
On January 20 NATO air policing fighter jets were alerted in response to two Su-30 flying from Kaliningrad and back through international airspace. Their onboard transponders were off, the crews had no flight plans and were not maintaining communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
On January 22 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted two Tu-22M and two Su-35 flying from mainland Russia and back through international airspace. While on the mission, NATO fighter jets also identified and escorted one Su-35 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia via international airspace. All aircraft crews kept the onboard transponders switched off, had no flight plans and were not maintaining radio communication.
