NATO Air Policing jets were scrambled four times between April 13 and 19 to intercept Russian aircraft incursions
NATO fighter jets were scrambled to airspace near the Baltic States’ borders to intercept a Russian aircraft breaching flight regulations, according to Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence.
NATO policing aircrafts were deployed on four separate occasions between 13 and 19 April to identify and intercept the Russian planes.
On April 13, jets were dispatched to identify an IL-20 aircraft.
The plane was travelling through international airspace between the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation and back again.
However, operating without a transponder, no flight plan, and failing to maintain radio contact with the Regional Air Traffic Control Centre (RATC), the aircraft was in clear breach of flight regulations.
A second aircraft, an AN-26, was also intercepted by NATO forces.
Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence noted that while this aircraft did have its transponder active and was maintaining radio communication, it too was operating without a flight plan.
The following day,April 14, NATO air policing jets were once again scrambled to intercept the IL-20 aircraft.
OnApril 15, NATO aircraft took to the skies again to identify two SU-30SM jets.
These aircraft were travelling the same route to and from Russia and were equally found to be in violation of flight regulations.
NATO fighter jets were deployed once more on April 17 to intercept the IL-20 aircraft.
Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence revealed that the aircraft breached aviation regulations, flying through international airspace with its transponder switched off, without a filed flight plan, and failing to maintain radio contact with the RSVC.
The aircraft was en route from the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation to the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation.
This follows the Russian defence ministry’s TV channel Zvezda acknowledging that NATO fighter jets shadowed bombers during a four-hour sortie over international waters.
“At certain stages of the route, the aircraft were escorted by fighter jets from foreign states,” the report stated. “All flights are conducted in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.”
The incidents occurred amid claims that Finland and the Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania had permitted their airspace to be utilised by Ukrainian drones targeting vital Russian oil ports.
Sergei Shoigu, secretary of the Russian security council, cautioned of Russia’s “inherent right” to self defence.
Shoigu reportedly issued a “final” warning, backed by Putin’s authority, that the Baltic states should avoid making the “mistake” of acting with “impunity” against Russia.
