NATO

Sweden scrambles fighter jets for first time under NATO command to intercept Russian aircraft

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On April 24, Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets were scrambled from Poland for the first time under NATO command to intercept a Russian Il-20M reconnaissance aircraft flying over international waters in the Baltic Sea.

This marks Sweden’s first operational deployment under NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission since joining the alliance last year. The interception, coordinated by NATO’s Air Operations Centre in Germany, highlights rising Russian aerial activity near NATO airspace. NATO praised the smooth cooperation between Swedish and British forces operating out of Malbork Air Base.

The Russian aircraft was flying without an active transponder, a common practice that poses risks to civilian air traffic and is viewed as a provocative move to test NATO’s response capabilities.

This post was published on 24 April 2025 21:18

André Orban

M. Sc. Engineering

Published by
André Orban

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