Data on interceptions of aircraft completed near the Baltic States' borders on March 16 – 22, 2026

On March 16 - 22 fighter aircraft of the NATO Air Policing Detachment were scrambled in response to international flight regulation violations four times.

On March 18 fighter aircraft conducting the NATO Air Policing tasks in the Baltic airspace intercepted two SU-30SM flying through international airspace from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad with their onboard transponders switched off, without the flight plans and not maintaining radio communication with the regional air traffic control centre.

On March 19 NATO fighter jets identified and escorted one IL-20M which flew from Kaliningrad and back without using the onboard transponder, without the flight plan nor maintaining radio communication.

On March 20 NATO air policing fighter aircraft were alerted in response to one IL-20M flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia via international airspace, without the flight plan, maintaining radio communication, but its onboard transponders switched off. NATO aircraft also intercepted one AN-12 on the way from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia, its onboard transponder was on, but the crew had not pre-filed flight plan and was not maintaining radio communication.

On March 20 NATO fighter jets were scrambled to intercept two SU-30SM flying from Kaliningrad and back via international airspace. Their onboard transponders were switched off and no flight plans had been pre-filed, though the crews were maintaining radio communication. Also, one AN-26 was identified and escorted flying from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia. It had no flight plan but the crew maintained radio communication and kept the radio transponder on.