Lyce · Hybrid Watch

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NATO intercepts two Russian Su-24M aircraft flying from Kaliningrad toward mainland Russia without transponders or flight plans.

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On 3 August, NATO Baltic Air Policing aircraft were scrambled in response to two Russian Su-24M aircraft flying from Kaliningrad toward mainland Russia. Both Russian aircraft were operating through international airspace with their onboard transponders switched off. Neither aircraft had submitted a flight plan to regional air traffic control. Their crews were also not maintaining radio communication with regional air-traffic-control authorities. NATO fighters therefore identified and escorted the aircraft. The incident was recorded by Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence as an international flight-regulation violation. The aircraft remained in international airspace rather than entering Lithuanian territorial airspace. Nevertheless, their lack of identification and communication required a NATO quick-reaction response. The event occurred along one of the principal Russian military-aircraft transit routes between Kaliningrad and mainland Russia.

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

Attribution

Official

Facts

No facts

Sources

  1. Role
    Discovery lead
    Publication

    On 3 August, NATO Baltic Air Policing aircraft were scrambled in response to two Russian Su-24M aircraft flying from Kaliningrad toward mainland Russia. Both Russian aircraft were operating through international airspace with their onboard transponders switched off. Neither aircraft had submitted a flight plan to regional air traffic control. Their crews were also not maintaining radio communication with regional air-traffic-control authorities. NATO fighters therefore identified and escorted the aircraft. The incident was recorded by Lithuania’s Ministry of National Defence as an international flight-regulation violation. The aircraft remained in international airspace rather than entering Lithuanian territorial airspace. Nevertheless, their lack of identification and communication required a NATO quick-reaction response. The event occurred along one of the principal Russian military-aircraft transit routes between Kaliningrad and mainland Russia.