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RAMSTEIN, Germany - NATO’s Combined Air Operation Centre at Uedem, Germany, reported two Russian fighter aircraft flying over international waters in the Baltic Sea from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia on July 15. The aircraft were also tracked by Finnish and Swedish air operation centres, and both Allies launched their quick reaction alert (QRA) forces to intercept the Russian military aircraft. These were not on a flight plan, not in radio contact with civilian air traffic control and did not use a transponder signal as customary under international aviation rules. 

Allied arrangements ensure the integrity of NATO airspace in the Baltic Sea region 24/7 and contribute to the safety of the airspace for all its users

Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet during a training mission. Archive photo by Finnish Air Force. 

Finnish and Swedish fighter jets intercepted two Russian fighters flying over international waters in the Baltic Sea region near NATO airspace. Photo by the Swedish Air Force. 

Swedish JAS-39 Gripen fighter soaring to the skies for a mission. Archive photo by Swedish Air Force. 

The Finnish and Swedish fighter jets conducted the interception in close cooperation and coordination with the NATO CAOC. The routine mission confirms the level of integration both Allies have achieved within NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence Systems and the Alliance’s Air Policing arrangements for the Baltic Sea.

Finnish and Swedish Air Forces protect the territorial integrity of their airspace, which has become NATO airspace, and survey adjacent airspace over the Baltic Sea with their national QRA forces. Both Allies’ national Air Operations Centres ensure fighter control during national QRA sorties and coordinate them with NATO’s CAOC, which is responsible for NATO Air Policing in northern Europe.

Allied arrangements ensure the integrity of NATO airspace in the Baltic Sea region 24/7 and contribute to the safety of the airspace for all its users.