NATO detects and scrambles over two dozen Russian fighter aircraft and bombers.
NATO jets are frequently patrolling the skies over the Baltic Sea due to a surge in Russian aircraft activity. Over the past week, there's been an unusual increase in Russian jets, bombers, and other aircraft showing up without any transponder signal or radio communication.
According to reports from Lithuania, NATO fighter jets have been scrambled numerous times to identify mystery Russian military planes flying within the international airspace above the Baltic Sea. A total of eleven alerts have been called, according to the Defense Ministry in Vilnius.
Approximately two dozen Russian fighter jets, bombers, reconnaissance planes, transport aircraft, and even a passenger plane were intercepted and escorted during this period. Most of them were reportedly flying without any previously filed flight plans, transponder signals, or radio communication.
The high number of interceptions is mainly due to multiple military exercises happening in the region, both on a national and NATO scale. For instance, the annual maritime maneuvers "Baltic Operations" (Baltops) are currently underway in the Baltic Sea, with over 50 ships and boats from 20 NATO countries participating. On land, more than 3700 soldiers from Lithuania and other NATO countries are training for "Iron Wolf 2024-1".
Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania don't have their own fighter jets. Since 2004, NATO has been ensuring the security of the Baltic airspace. Allies routinely station fighter jets with personnel in border states located in northeastern Europe. These units are stationed in Siauliai (Lithuania) and Lielvarde (Latvia). Germany has done this task on several occasions and has been part of "NATO Air Policing Balticum" since early March.
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The German Armed Forces have been contributing to ensuring the security of the Baltic airspace by participating in "NATO Air Policing Balticum" in recent months. The Russian fighter aircraft and bombers intercepted by NATO over the Baltic Sea have been a frequent occurrence, given the ongoing military exercises in the region, such as "Baltic Operations" (Baltops). Due to the Baltic States' lack of their own fighter jets, NATO has been stationing allied fighter jets with personnel in border states like Siauliai, Lithuania, and Lielvarde, Latvia.
