Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on September 9-15, 2024

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2024-09-16
International cooperation | Security and defense policy

On September 9-15 fighter aircraft of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Detachment were scrambled eight times to intercept aircraft of the Russian Federation violating flight rules in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

On September 9 fighter aircraft of the NATO Baltic Air Policing detachment were scrambled to intercept one IL-20 flying through international airspace from the mainland of the Russian Federation to Kaliningrad. The aircraft had no pre-filed flight plan, its onboard transponder was switched on and the crew was maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On September 11 NATO air policing aircraft were scrambled to intercept one TU-142 which flew into international airspace out of mainland Russia and then returned. It had no pre-filed flight plan, the crew was not maintaining radio communication and kept the onboard transponder switched off. On the same day NATO fighter jets identified and escorted two SU-30SM that were flying from a location in Kaliningrad to another through in international airspace. The aircraft had no flight plans, their onboard transponders were switched off, the crews were not keeping radio contact.

On September 11 NATO Air Policing fighter aircraft intercepted two TU-22M3 and two SU-35S flying in international airspace from one location in mainland Russia to another. They had no flight plans, the onboard transponders off, no contact with the regional air traffic control centre.

On September 13 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to identify and escort one TU-142 and two SU-30SM heading from one location in mainland Russia to another through international airspace. The aircraft had no pre-filed flight plans, their onboard transponders were switched off, the crews were not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On September 13 NATO fighter jets identified and escorted one TU-142 and two SU-30SM. The TU-142 flew out of the mainland of the Russian Federation into international airspace and later returned, the flight had not been officially notified about, the aircraft onboard transponder was off and no radio communication was maintained. The two SU-30SM were flying between locations in Kaliningrad via international airspace without having pre-filed flight plans, not using the onboard transponders and without maintaining radio communication.

On September 13 NATO air policing aircraft were scrambled to intercept two MIG-31 and two SU-30SM (specific determination of identity failed). The MIG-31 were flying through international airspace from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad, while the SU-30SM breached into international airspace flying from one allocation in mainland Russia to another. They had no pre-filed flight plans, the onboard transponders were switched off, no communication with the regional air traffic control was maintained.

On September 13 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept four aircraft deemed to be probably SU-30SM, and SU-35, all flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad via international airspace without any pre-filed flight plans, onboard transponders off, not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On September 15 NATO air policing fighter jets identified and escorted three MIG-31 flying in international airspace from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad without the flight plans, not using onboard transponders nor maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control. NATO air policing capability was also scrambled to intercept one AN-72 in international airspace on the way between mainland Russia and Kaliningrad. It had no flight plan, the crew was maintaining radio contact but kept the onboard transponders switched off.