"On June 5–11 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled 15 times to identify and escort aircraft of the Russian Federation flying in violation of flight rules in international airspace over the Baltic Sea," said the Lithuanian Defense Ministry.
According to the Ministry, the following incidents were logged:
- On June 5 fighter aircraft of the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission Detachment were scrambled to intercept one IL-20 flying from Kaliningrad and back through international airspace without a pre-filed flight plan, not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control center, its onboard transponder off.
- On June 5 NATO fighter jets intercepted one IL-20 flying from Kaliningrad and back via international airspace. The flight had no pre-filed plan, the aircraft crew was not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control center and kept the onboard transponder switched off.
- In the course of the same flight NATO fighter aircraft also intercepted two SU-27s escorting the IL-20 from Kaliningrad and then back. The aircraft also had no flight plans, maintained no radio communication and had their onboard transponders off.
- On June 6 NATO air policing fighter aircraft intercepted one SU-24MR on its way from Kaliningrad to the mainland of the Russian Federation in international airspace. The aircraft had no flight plan, its onboard transponder was switched on and the crew was keeping radio communication.
- In the course of the same flight one TU-134 was intercepted flying in international airspace from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia without the flight plan, with is onboard transponder switched on and maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control center.
- On June 7 NATO fighter jets were scrabbled to intercepted one IL-20 flying from and back to Kaliningrad through international airspace without the flight plan, not using its onboard transponders and not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
- While on the same scramble, NATO fighter jets also intercepted one AN-26 heading from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia through international airspace without the flight plan, with its onboard transponder on and maintaining radio communication.
- On June 7 NATO air policing fighter jets intercepted one AN-30 that took off from Kaliningrad, flew into international airspace and returned to Kaliningrad without a pre-filed flight plan, though its onboard transponder was on and the crew was maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control center.
- In the course of the same scramble NATO aircraft also intercepted one IL-20 and two SU-30s flying out of and back to Kaliningrad through international airspace without the pre-filed flight plans, without using the onboard transponders and not maintaining radio comminutions.
- On June 8 NATO fighter jets scrambled to intercept one AN-30 flying from and back to Kaliningrad via international airspace without a pre-filed plan, its onboard transponder on, maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control center.
- While conducting the scramble NATO fighter jets also identified and escorted two SU-30s flying from Kaliningrad and back through international airspace without the flight plans, onboard transponders off, not keeping radio contact.
- On June 8 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept one IL-20 flying in international airspace from and back to Kaliningrad without the flight plan, with its onboard transponders off and not maintaining radio communication.
- On June 8 NATO air policing fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept IL-20 and SU-27 aircraft of the Russian Federation flying from and back to Kaliningrad via international airspace without having pre-filed a flight plan, not maintaining radio communication, onboard transponders off.
- On June 9 NATO fighter aircraft identified and escorted one AN-72 flying from mainland Russia and back via international airspace. The flight had no pre-filed plan, the crew was maintaining radio communication and kept the onboard transponder on.
- In the course of the same scramble NATO fighter jets also intercepted one AN-12 flying in international airspace from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad, without the pre-filed flight plan, with its onboard transponder switched on, and maintaining radio communication.
- Also, two TU-22s flying from and back to mainland Russia via international airspace without the flight plan, onboard transponders off, not keeping radio communication.
- And as well, two SU-30s flying out of mainland Russia and returning in international airspace without the pre-filed flight plan, without using the onboard transponders and not maintaining radio communication.
- On June 9 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted two SU-24 and two SU-27 flying from and back to Kaliningrad through international airspace without the pre-filed flight plans, without using the onboard transponders and not maintaining radio communication.
- On June 10 NATO fighter jets intercepted one IL-20 flying from Kaliningrad and back in international airspace without the flight plan, its onboard transponders switched off, not maintain radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.
- On June 10 NATO fighter jets identified and escorted two SU-30SM that flew into international airspace from Kaliningrad and returned, not using the onboard transponders, not maintaining radio communication, and without the pre-filed plans for the flight.
- On June 10 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept two SU-27s flying from and back to Kaliningrad without the flight plans, not using onboard transponders, not maintaining radio contact.
- On June 10 NATO fighter jets were scrambled to intercept two TUM3 and two SU-30s flying through international airspace from mainland Russia and back. The flight had no pre-filed plan, none of the aircraft used the onboard transponders nor maintained radio communication.
- On June 11 NATO fighter aircraft intercepted two SU-24M flying from and back to Kaliningrad via international airspace without the flight plans, not using the onboard transponders, and not keeping radio contact.
NATO jets taking part in the Baltic air policing mission are based in Estonia and Lithuania. Allies take turns deploying to air bases at Šiauliai, Lithuania, and Ämari, Estonia, on a four-month rotational basis, ready to be launched by NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem, Germany if required. The Air Forces of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia contribute to the mission with host nation support in the form of air command and control infrastructure and personnel.
