French Rafales Intercept Six Russian Aircraft as Part of Baltic Air Policing

French Rafale fighter jets, which are carrying out a NATO mission to patrol the airspace of the Baltic states, intercepted six Russian aircraft in Baltic airspace.

This was reported by the General Staff of the French Armed Forces.

The interceptions took place on June 2 in the NATO area of responsibility over the Baltic Sea.

In order to escort the Russian aircraft, the command scrambled two French Rafale fighters from the 71st Baltic Air Policing contingent, which is based at the Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania.

During the sortie, French pilots visually identified six Russian aircraft. The group included Su-35S, Su-34, and Su-24 fighters, an Il-76 military transport aircraft, as well as An-12 and An-30 reconnaissance aircraft.

Currently, the French Air and Space Force have four two-seat Rafale Bs from the 4th Fighter Squadron stationed in Lithuania, operating as part of the Baltic Air Policing mission.

The Baltic Air Policing plays a vital role in ensuring NATO’s security by carrying out a key defense mission aimed at protecting the Alliance’s airspace.

We also recommend reading an exclusive Militarnyi article: “NATO Air Policing: Defending Europe’s Skies.”

The mission operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, thanks to the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) system, which allows fighter jets to take off within minutes in response to potential threats, such as unidentified aircraft or airspace violations.

One of the key aspects of the Baltic Air Policing (BAP) is deterrence, particularly given the Baltic countries’ proximity to Russia. This makes them vulnerable to various provocations, including flights by Russian military aircraft without transponders or without submitted flight plans.

Such situations pose a threat to civil aviation, and the Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission monitors and intercepts such aircraft.

For example, in 2023, British Typhoon fighters intercepted 50 Russian aircraft over a four-month period, including bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.

Earlier, Militarnyi reported that the maximum operational range of drones had been significantly increased. Portuguese F-16 fighter jets intercepted Russian An-12 and Su-35 aircraft over the Baltic Sea as part of the NATO Air Policing 2026 mission.