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Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on April 17-23, 2023

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2023-04-24
International cooperation

On April 17-23 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states were scrambled seven times to identify and escort aircraft of the Russian Federation flying in violation of flight rules in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

On April 18 fighter aircraft of the NATO Air Policing Detachment were scrambled to intercept one IL-76 flying from Kaliningrad to the mainland of the Russian Federation through international airspace. The aircraft had no pre-filed flight plan, its onboard transponder was switched on and the crew was maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On April 18 NATO fighter jets intercepted one IL-20 flying in international airspace from Kaliningrad and back without the flight plan, not using the onboard transponder and without maintaining the radio communication.

On April 20 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to identify and escort one IL-20 and two SU-27s of the Russian Federation flying out of Kaliningrad into international airspace and back. None of the aircraft had flight plans, used onboard transponders or maintained communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On April 21 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept one IL-76 flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia through international airspace according to a pre-filed flight plan, with its onboard transponder switched on and maintaining communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On April 21 fighter aircraft conducting NATO air policing tasks intercepted one IL-20 flying in international airspace from Kaliningrad and back, without the flight plan, not using the onboard transponder and not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On April 22 NATO fighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept one TU-134 and two SU-27s. The TU-134 was flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia in accordance with a pre-filed flight plan, with its onboard transponder in operation, and maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre. The two SU-27s were flying from and back to Kaliningrad via international space, without the flight plan, not using the onboard transponder and not keeping the radio contract.

On April 22 NATO fighter jets intercepted one TU-134 and two SU-27s. The TU-134 was flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia through international airspace according to a pre-filed flight plan, its onboard transponder on, maintaining the radio communication. The two SU-27s were flying from Kaliningrad, into international airspace and the back without a pre-filed flight plan, not using the onboard transponder and not maintain radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.