NATO fighter jets scrambled repeatedly through late September to intercept and escort multiple Russian military aircraft flying near regional airspace without active transponders or filed flight plans. Allied air defense operations responded to a series of flights moving between mainland Russia and the Kaliningrad exclave, according to operational reporting from regional defense monitors.
September 21: Il-20 Intercepted Without Flight Plan
On September 21, NATO fighters scrambled to identify and escort an Il-20 aircraft flying from mainland Russia to the Kaliningrad region. The aircraft operated without a previously filed flight plan and had its onboard transponder turned off. Despite these missing identification protocols, the crew maintained radio communication with the regional air traffic control center throughout the flight.
September 22: Su-30 Fighters Fly Through International Airspace
On September 22, NATO fighters were dispatched to intercept two Su-30 aircraft. The warplanes flew from the Kaliningrad region and back through international airspace. Their onboard transponders remained turned off, the crews did not file flight plans in advance, and the pilots failed to maintain radio communication with air traffic controllers.
September 24: Multiple Russian Aircraft Types Monitored in Two Incidents
On September 24, NATO forces logged two separate intercept operations involving multiple aircraft types. During the initial encounter, allied jets escorted and identified one Su-30SM, three Su-30M2s, three MiG-31 aircraft, and one Tu-134. These aircraft flew through international airspace from the Kaliningrad region to mainland Russia without filing advance flight plans. While their onboard transponders were turned off, the flight crews maintained radio communication.
A second formation, comprising one Il-20, two Su-30M2s, and one Su-35, was detected and escorted by NATO fighters later that day while traveling from the Kaliningrad region and back through international airspace. The aircraft operated with their onboard transponders turned off, lacked advance flight plans, and did not maintain radio communication.
September 26: Su-24 Intercepted Over International Airspace
One Su-24 aircraft was intercepted by NATO fighters on September 26 while flying from the Kaliningrad region and back through international airspace. The crew failed to maintain radio communication with the regional air traffic control center, the aircraft’s onboard transponder was deactivated, and no flight plan had been filed in advance.
Reasons for NATO fighter scrambles and Russian radio contact variations
Why do NATO fighters intercept Russian aircraft near Kaliningrad?
NATO fighters scramble to identify and escort aircraft that fly without filed flight plans or active transponders in order to ensure regional airspace safety and prevent misunderstandings.
Did the intercepted Russian aircraft maintain radio contact during these flights?
Radio communication varied by flight. While crews on flights like the September 21 Il-20 and the September 24 MiG-31 formation maintained radio contact with air traffic control, crews on the September 22 Su-30 flight and the September 26 Su-24 flight did not.
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