According to Lithuanian sources, NATO fighter jets have taken off on several missions to identify unmarked Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. A total of eleven alert launches were carried out last week, the Ministry of Defense in Vilnius announced on Monday.
In total, a good two dozen Russian fighter jets, fighter-bombers, reconnaissance and transport aircraft, as well as a passenger plane were intercepted and escorted. Most of them were reportedly flying without a previously submitted flight plan, transponder signal or radio contact.
The ministry linked the comparatively high number of operations to several military exercises that the Baltic states are conducting at a national level and together with NATO allies. According to the ministry, the annual major maritime exercise “Baltic Operations” (Baltops) is currently taking place in the Baltic Sea, in which over 50 ships and boats from 20 NATO countries are taking part. And on land, more than 3,700 soldiers from Lithuania and other NATO countries are practicing in the “Iron Wolf 2024-1” exercise.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania do not have their own fighter jets. NATO has therefore been securing Baltic airspace since 2004. To this end, the allies regularly move fighter planes and personnel to the states bordering Russia in north-eastern Europe. The units are stationed in Siauliai (Lithuania) and Lielvarde (Latvia). Germany has repeatedly taken on the task and has been participating in “NATO Air Policing Baltics” since the beginning of March.