Portugal’s F-16 fighter jets intercepted Russian An-12 transport aircraft and Su-35 fighters over the Baltic Sea as part of NATO’s “Baltic Air Policing 2026” mission, the military alliance’s Air Command reported.
The Portuguese aircraft involved in the operation are stationed at Ämari Air Base in Estonia. Since the mission began on April 1, the Portuguese contingent has already been scrambled six times to respond to Russian air activity in the region.
Previous reports also indicated that Slovakia intends to send its F-16 fighter jets to NATO’s air policing mission in the Baltic countries — Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia — by the end of 2027. The reinforcement comes amid increased alliance surveillance of Russian military flights near European airspace.
In early May, NATO aircraft were scrambled three times to identify and escort Russian aircraft flying without complying with international aviation regulations. In one case, French Rafale fighters intercepted two Russian Su-24M aircraft coming from the Kaliningrad region.
According to NATO, the aircraft had their transponders turned off, no registered flight plan and no radio contact with air traffic controllers.
In late April, Swedish and Danish fighters intercepted Tu-22M3 strategic bombers escorted by Su-35S fighters over the Baltic Sea.
Source: Militarnyi | Photo: Facebook – NATO Allied Air Command | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
