NATO fighter planes spread over the Baltic Sea due to Russian aircraft

Twenty Russian fighter planes were intercepted, according to the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.

NATO fighter aircraft have flown identification missions of unmarked Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. The Lithuanian Ministry of Defense announced on Monday that a total of 11 alarm launches were completed last week. In total, more than twenty Russian fighter aircraft, fighter-bombers, reconnaissance and transport aircraft, as well as a passenger aircraft, were intercepted and escorted.

According to the information, most of them were traveling without a flight plan, transmitted signal, or radio contact provided in advance. The Ministry linked the relatively large number of missions to numerous military exercises conducted by the Baltic states at the national level and in cooperation with their NATO allies. Accordingly, a major annual naval exercise “Baltic Operations” (Baltops) is currently taking place in the Baltic Sea, in which more than 50 ships and boats from 20 NATO countries participate. On the ground, more than 3,700 soldiers from Lithuania and other NATO countries trained in the “Iron Wolf 2024-1” exercise.

NATO secures the airspace of the Baltic states

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania do not have their own fighter aircraft. NATO has therefore been securing the airspace of the Baltic region since 2004. To this end, the Allies regularly transfer combat aircraft and personnel to the countries of northeastern Europe bordering Russia. The units are stationed in Siauliai (Lithuania) and Lielvarde (Latvia). Germany has repeatedly undertaken this task and has been participating in the “NATO Baltic Air Police” since the beginning of March. (APA/DPA)