F-16s Intercept Russian An-12 and Su-35 Over Baltic Sea

Portuguese F-16 fighter jets intercepted Russian An-12 transport and Su-35 fighter aircraft over the Baltic Sea as part of NATO’s Air Policing 2026 mission, NATO Air Command said.

The Portuguese jets involved in the interception are stationed at Ämari Air Base in Estonia. Since April 1, the Portuguese contingent has been scrambled six times.

Earlier reports said Slovakia plans to deploy its F-16 fighters to NATO’s Baltic air policing mission in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia by the end of 2027.

In early May, NATO fighters assigned to the Baltic Air Policing mission were scrambled three times to identify and escort Russian aircraft that were flying without complying with international flight regulations.

In particular, on May 1, French Air and Space Force Rafale fighter jets intercepted two Russian Su-24M aircraft flying from and back to Russia’s Kaliningrad region.

The Russian aircraft were flying with their radar transponders switched off, without filed flight plans, and without maintaining radio contact with the regional air traffic control center.

In late April, Swedish and Danish fighter jets intercepted Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers accompanied by Su-35S fighter jets over the Baltic Sea.