NATO air police fighters conducted three missions to identify and escort Russian aircraft, including fighter jets and a passenger plane, in the Baltic region.
On February 23, NATO air police fighters were deployed to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft, the Su-24MR, and a fighter jet, the Su-33. Both aircraft were operating without active radar transponders, flight plans, or maintaining radio communication with the Regional Air Traffic Control Center (RSVC), a concerning situation that warranted NATO's intervention. This lack of communication and identification capabilities posed potential risks, prompting the alliance to enhance its air patrols in the Baltic region.
On February 25, NATO fighters again took to the air to identify the same types of Russian aircraft, the Su-24MR and Su-33, which continued to operate without the required safety measures. On the same day, NATO fighters were also deployed to identify two passenger aircraft, an AN-148 and an H25B, which were flying in international airspace from mainland Russia to the Kaliningrad region. Unlike the military aircraft, these passenger planes had their radar transponders on and maintained communication with the RSVC, indicating compliance with international regulations.
The increased activity of NATO air police in the Baltic states, conducted from bases in Lithuania and Estonia, highlights ongoing tensions in the region due to Russian military movements. The air policing missions are essential to ensuring the safety and security of Baltic airspace, as NATO continues to monitor and respond to any potential threats posed by uncommunicative and unidentified Russian military aircraft operating near its borders.
