Lyce · Hybrid Watch

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NATO intercepts two Russian Su-24M aircraft operating without transponders, flight plans or radio contact.

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On 5 August, NATO Baltic Air Policing fighters again intercepted two Russian Su-24M aircraft operating from Kaliningrad toward mainland Russia. The aircraft were flying through international airspace with their transponders switched off. Neither aircraft had a pre-filed flight plan. Their crews were also not communicating with regional air traffic control. NATO aircraft identified and escorted the Russian pair. The incident represented a second Russian military-flight violation recorded by Lithuania within three days. The repeated use of the same operating pattern increased the number of NATO quick-reaction alerts in the Baltic region. The aircraft did not enter Lithuanian territorial airspace, but their behaviour breached established international flight-safety procedures. Lithuania’s Defence Ministry included the episode among five Russian flight-regulation violations recorded between 3 and 9 August.

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 5 August, NATO Baltic Air Policing fighters again intercepted two Russian Su-24M aircraft operating from Kaliningrad toward mainland Russia. The aircraft were flying through international airspace with their transponders switched off. Neither aircraft had a pre-filed flight plan. Their crews were also not communicating with regional air traffic control. NATO aircraft identified and escorted the Russian pair. The incident represented a second Russian military-flight violation recorded by Lithuania within three days. The repeated use of the same operating pattern increased the number of NATO quick-reaction alerts in the Baltic region. The aircraft did not enter Lithuanian territorial airspace, but their behaviour breached established international flight-safety procedures. Lithuania’s Defence Ministry included the episode among five Russian flight-regulation violations recorded between 3 and 9 August.