Overview
- NATO fighters from Šiauliai Air Base intercepted six Russian aircraft on June 2 after French and Swedish jets scrambled to escort the package out of the Baltic Area of Responsibility.
- France's Baltic detachment was scrambled 11 times in one week, the French armed forces spokesperson said, calling the patrols a higher-than-usual number of provocations.
- The Russian force included a Su-35 fighter, Su-24 and Su-34 strike aircraft, an Il-76 transport and An-12 and An-30 transport/reconnaissance planes, a mix that suggests testing of NATO response across roles.
- Swedish Gripen fighters joined the June 2 response, showing Sweden's post-2024 NATO integration is being used routinely in Baltic air policing missions.
- Baltic Air Policing has operated since 2004 to protect Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and has expanded in size and tempo since 2022, meaning local populations and air traffic face more frequent military intercepts and a higher chance of accidental incidents.