NATO intercepts Russian military aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea
Summary
NATO fighter jets intercepted Russian bombers and fighter planes flying over the Baltic Sea on April 20, 2026. The interception involved jets from several NATO countries, and Russia said the flight was planned and took place over international waters.Key Facts
- Russian aircraft included two Tu-22M3 bombers and about 10 fighters (SU-30s and SU-35s).
- The Russian flight lasted over four hours above neutral Baltic Sea waters.
- NATO deployed French Rafale fighters from a base in Lithuania along with jets from Sweden, Finland, Poland, Denmark, and Romania.
- NATO jets often respond to Russian planes that fly near NATO airspace without transponders or flight plans.
- NATO’s Baltic air policing mission began after Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia joined in 2004.
- Russian bombers regularly conduct flights over neutral waters in the Arctic, North Atlantic, Pacific, Baltic, and Black Seas, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry.
- NATO has intercepted Russian planes around 300 times yearly before the Ukraine war.
- The interception at Šiauliai Air Base showed quick readiness with crews suited and ready to scramble within minutes.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
