NATO’s newest member state just intercepted its first Russian aircraft

Swedish Gripens are patrolling alliance airspace

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On April 24th, Swedish Gripen fighter jets participating in NATO’s Air Policing Mission were scrambled against Russian air assets for the first time since joining the defensive alliance’s patrolling mission according to NATO Air Command. 

Sweden and NATO’s Air Pollicing Mission

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Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft have been stationed in Poland since early April as part of Helsinki’s role in the NATO Air Policing Mission. However, they hadn't been scrambled until a recent intercept and identification mission. 

Scrambled from Poland’s Malbrok airbase

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Two Gripens reportedly took off from the Polish Malbrok air base to identify an unknown aircraft. The unknown plane was a Russian Il-20M surveillance reconnaissance aircraft and the interception occurred over the Baltic Sea north of Poland. 

Photo Credit: X @NATO_AIRCOM

The first time Gripens were scrambled

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“For the first time, as part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing Mission, Swedish Gripen jets were scrambled in response to a Russian aircraft close to NATO airspace,” a statement from NATO Air Command published on social media explained. 

Photo Credit: X @NATO_AIRCOM

Executed under NATO leadership

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The Ukrainian military website Militarnyi reported on the interception mission and noted the operation was executed under the direction of the NATO Combined Air Operations Centre in the German city of Uedem. 

Photo Credit: X @NATO_AIRCOM

Sweden and the UK on patrol duties

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Militarnyi also pointed out that NATO Air Command specifically mentioned the “flawless integration” between Swedish Gripen pilots and their British Royal Air Force counterparts, who are on NATO airspace patrolling duties at the same airbase.  

What we know about the situation

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The Royal Air Force (RAF) was scrambled three times in one week to intercept aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea as part of the UK's deployment to the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission. 

RAF fighters called on three times

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On April 20th, RAF revealed in a statement on its website that its Typhoon fighter jets were called upon three times in one week to intercept Russian aircraft under varying circumstances. 

An incident on April 15th

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RAF Typhoons were scrambled two times on April 15th. The first mission saw the RAF fighter jets identify and intercept a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M reconnaissance aircraft. 

Photo Credit: X @RoyalAirForce

Intercepting a Russian spy plane

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“Known by its NATO code name Coot-A, the aircraft is a Communication and Electronic Signals Intelligence Surveillance-Reconnaissance aircraft,” the RAF report explained. 

A second interception targeting fighter jets

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British Typhoons were scrambled a second time on April 15th to intercept 2 Russian Su-30MKI fighter jets. Photos of the interception mission were published by the RAF on its social media accounts. 

Photo Credit: X @RoyalAirForce

Intercepting an unknown plane on April 17th

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On April 17th, two British Typhoons were quickly scrambled for the third time in three days in order to intercept and identify an unknown aircraft that was close to NATO airspace.  

Photo Credit: X @RoyalAirForce

An intercept and identify mission

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“Today was the third time in three days that NATO have scrambled RAF assets at Malbork, today’s mission was to intercept and identify the unknown aircraft departing Kaliningrad air space,” a spokesperson from the 140th Expeditionary Air Wing explained.

The plane wasn’t communicating

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“It was not communicating, so once intercepted we shadowed the aircraft to protect civilian air traffic in the immediate area,” the spokesperson continued. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons By Kirill Naumenko, CC BY-SA 3.0

The 140th Expeditionary Air Wing

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Aircrew of the No. II Squadron, which is part of the 140th Expeditionary Air Wing, is currently operating Quick Reaction Alert missions as part of NATO’s enhanced air policing mission in the Baltic region alongside their Swedish counterparts. In Britain, the mission is known as Operation Chessman.

Operation Chessman

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“The Operation sees personnel from across the RAF deployed to Malbork alongside NATO's newest member, Sweden,” the RAF explained about Operation Chessman in its statement. 

Photo Credit: Royal Air Force

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