NATO forces intercepted Russian strategic bombers and fighter jets over the Baltic Sea on Monday, in a potent show of air power on the alliance’s eastern flank. French Rafale fighters, stationed at a Lithuanian air base for NATO's air-policing mission, were scrambled alongside aircraft from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Denmark, and Romania.
The Russian formation comprised two supersonic Tu-22M3 bombers and approximately 10 fighters, including SU-30s and SU-35s, that alternately escorted the larger aircraft, according to the French detachment. Russia's Defence Ministry stated the flight was scheduled, occurred in neutral airspace, and lasted over four hours, asserting that all flights comply with international rules.
NATO routinely scrambles fighter jets to intercept Russian warplanes that approach or fly near alliance airspace, often without using transponders or filing flight plans. The 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 each year, mostly over northern European waters.
Monday's interception was witnessed by a journalist from The Associated Press at Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania. Two French Rafale crews, already suited up on standby, raced to their hangars, ignited engines, and roared off into clear skies after receiving the order to take off. This incident follows multiple interceptions in recent weeks, with Lithuania's defence ministry reporting four scrambles from April 13 to 19.
