NATO fighter jets intercept Russian aircraft three times over Baltic States in one week

This was reported by the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense.

On August 13, the fighters took off to identify an Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft. It was flying in the international airspace of the Kaliningrad region, Russia.

The next day, NATO fighter jets intercepted a TU-22M3 long-range strategic bomber and multi-purpose fighters of various modernizations - SU-30, SU-35, SU-27. 

“On August 16, NATO Air Policing fighters flew to identify the IL-20 aircraft. The aircraft was flying in international airspace from the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation to the Russian mainland,” the statement said.

All Russian aircraft were flying without a flight plan, without a radar transponder turned on, and did not maintain radio communication with the regional flight control center.

• Earlier, two Polish F-16 fighter jets intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea.