Lyce · Hybrid Watch

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NATO intercepts Russian Su-30SM fighter flying from Kaliningrad without transponder or flight plan.

Later on 5 August, NATO fighters were scrambled for a separate Russian military-aircraft incident involving a Su-30SM fighter. The aircraft was flying from Kaliningrad toward mainland Russia through international airspace. Its onboard transponder was switched off and no flight plan had been filed. The Russian crew was also not maintaining radio contact with regional air traffic control. NATO fighters identified and intercepted the aircraft. The Su-30SM is a multirole combat aircraft rather than a transport or reconnaissance platform, making this incident particularly relevant to your military-provocation category. The aircraft did not enter Lithuanian territorial airspace. Nevertheless, its unidentified flight status required NATO air-policing intervention. This was therefore a separate event from the two Su-24M aircraft intercepted earlier on the same day.

Occurrence
2026-08-05
Publication
2026-08-05T20:57:10Z
First observed
2026-09-24T06:09:10.079Z
Review status
Not assessed
Countries
EE, LT, LV
Updated
2026-09-27T23:56:59.668Z

E/M/R/S scores

  • EExistence0/4 · Not assessed
  • MIntent0/4 · Not assessed
  • RRussian actor link0/4 · Not assessed
  • SRussian state responsibility0/4 · Not assessed

Facts

No facts

Sources

  1. Role
    discovery_lead
    Date
    2026-08-05T20:57:10Z

    Later on 5 August, NATO fighters were scrambled for a separate Russian military-aircraft incident involving a Su-30SM fighter. The aircraft was flying from Kaliningrad toward mainland Russia through international airspace. Its onboard transponder was switched off and no flight plan had been filed. The Russian crew was also not maintaining radio contact with regional air traffic control. NATO fighters identified and intercepted the aircraft. The Su-30SM is a multirole combat aircraft rather than a transport or reconnaissance platform, making this incident particularly relevant to your military-provocation category. The aircraft did not enter Lithuanian territorial airspace. Nevertheless, its unidentified flight status required NATO air-policing intervention. This was therefore a separate event from the two Su-24M aircraft intercepted earlier on the same day.