Lyce · Hybrid Watch

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NATO responds to Russian Il-20 and possible Su-34 / Su-30SM activity near Kaliningrad.

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NATO fighter jets were scrambled several times in response to Russian or suspected Russian aircraft activity near the Baltic states. One alert concerned a potential Su-34 flying from and back to Kaliningrad without a transponder, without a filed flight plan, and without radio communication, although the object was ultimately not identified. NATO jets also intercepted a Russian Il-20 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad. The Il-20 is especially relevant because it is an intelligence, surveillance and electronic-reconnaissance platform. Its transponder was switched off, no flight plan had been filed, and the crew was not maintaining radio communication. During the same scramble, NATO crews were also ordered to intercept a potential Su-30SM, but weather conditions prevented identification. A separate mission was sent to identify an airborne target over Estonia, though that mission was not completed.

Occurrence
Publication
First observed
Review status
Not assessed
Countries
Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia
Updated

Attribution

Official

Facts

No facts

Sources

  1. Role
    Discovery lead
    Publication

    NATO fighter jets were scrambled several times in response to Russian or suspected Russian aircraft activity near the Baltic states. One alert concerned a potential Su-34 flying from and back to Kaliningrad without a transponder, without a filed flight plan, and without radio communication, although the object was ultimately not identified. NATO jets also intercepted a Russian Il-20 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad. The Il-20 is especially relevant because it is an intelligence, surveillance and electronic-reconnaissance platform. Its transponder was switched off, no flight plan had been filed, and the crew was not maintaining radio communication. During the same scramble, NATO crews were also ordered to intercept a potential Su-30SM, but weather conditions prevented identification. A separate mission was sent to identify an airborne target over Estonia, though that mission was not completed.