NATO jets scrambled from Lithuania twice last week over Russian warplanes

VILNIUS – NATO air-policing Jets were last week scrambled twice from Lithuania to intercept Russian warplanes flying above the Baltic Sea, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said.

On July 4, the NATO fighter jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian warplane IL-20 en route in the international airspace above the Baltic Sea from mainland Russia to the Kaliningrad region. The airplane had its onboard transponder off, did not have a flight plan but maintained contact with the regional flight control center.

The other Russian IL-20 was flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia on July 7, this time without the transponder on, with a flight plan and in contact with the regional flight control center.

The NATO air-policing mission is the Baltic states is conducted from Lithuania and Estonia.