NATO fighter jets were scrambled on Monday to intercept a formation of Russian strategic bombers and fighter aircraft over the Baltic Sea, in a display of air power on the alliance's eastern flank. French Rafale fighters, stationed at a Lithuanian air base as part of NATO's Baltic air-policing mission, were among those deployed.
The French detachment confirmed that its aircraft, armed with air-to-air missiles, joined jets from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Denmark, and Romania to monitor the Russian formation. The Russian group included two Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers and around ten SU-30 and SU-35 fighter jets that alternately escorted the larger aircraft.
Russia's Defence Ministry stated that the flight of its long-range bombers was scheduled, took place over neutral waters in the Baltic Sea, and lasted more than four hours. The ministry added that at certain points, the bombers were accompanied by foreign fighters, and that all flights comply with international airspace rules.
NATO routinely intercepts Russian aircraft that approach or enter allied airspace without transponders or flight plans. The alliance's Baltic air-policing mission has been in place since Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia joined NATO in 2004. Even before the war in Ukraine, NATO intercepted Russian planes around 300 times per year.
On Monday, two French Rafale crews at Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania were seen racing to their hangars after being scrambled. They were already suited up and on standby, ready to take off within minutes. After a brief hold, the jets taxied out and roared into the sky. Lithuania's defence ministry reported that NATO jets were scrambled four times between April 13 and 19 to intercept Russian aircraft violating flight rules.
