NATO fighter jets were scrambled on Monday to intercept a formation of Russian strategic bombers and fighter jets over the Baltic Sea, in a significant show of force on the alliance's eastern flank. French Rafale fighters, stationed at a Lithuanian air base as part of NATO's air-policing mission, led the response, joined by aircraft from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Denmark, and Romania.
The Russian formation included two supersonic Tu-22M3 bombers and approximately 10 SU-30 and SU-35 fighter jets, which alternately escorted the larger aircraft, according to a statement from the French detachment. Russia's Defence Ministry confirmed the flight was scheduled, conducted over neutral Baltic Sea airspace, and lasted more than four hours.
In a Telegram post, the ministry stated that at certain stages of the route, the bombers were accompanied by fighters from foreign states. It emphasised that all flights by Russian Aerospace Forces are carried out in strict compliance with international rules for the use of airspace. The ministry did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
NATO's Allied Air Command also did not comment. The alliance routinely scrambles jets to intercept Russian warplanes that approach or fly near NATO airspace, often without using transponders or filing flight plans. Monday's interception was the latest in a series of such incidents; NATO jets were scrambled four times between April 13 and 19 to intercept Russian aircraft violating flight rules over the Baltic.
An Associated Press journalist at Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania witnessed the French detachment's rapid response. Two Rafale crews, already suited up on standby, raced to their hangars, ignited engines, and awaited the order to take off before roaring into the sky. The mission underscores NATO's ongoing Baltic air policing, in place since Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia joined the alliance in 2004.
