Swedish Gripen And Danish F-35 Jets Intercept Russian Tu-22M3 Bombers Over Baltic Sea

Swedish and Danish fighter jets intercepted a group of Russian long-range bombers flying near NATO airspace over the Baltic Sea, according to the Swedish Air Force on April 21.

According to the Swedish Air Force, JAS 39 Gripen fighters were scrambled to identify and escort two Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers accompanied by Su-35S fighter jets near the island of Gotland. The aircraft were operating in international airspace but close to Swedish territorial boundaries.

The Swedish Air Force released images showing the Russian aircraft under escort, confirming the composition of the formation. As the group continued south toward the Danish area of responsibility near Bornholm, Danish F-35A fighters took over the mission, continuing the tracking operation.

The Russian aircraft remained outside NATO airspace throughout the flight, and no violations were reported. The interception was carried out as part of routine air policing and monitoring operations conducted by NATO and partner countries in the region.

According to the Swedish Air Force, similar flights involving Tu-22M3 bombers have been observed in the Baltic region in the past. In a previous case in November, Russian aircraft launched from the Olenya air base on the Kola Peninsula and conducted a long-duration flight lasting several hours near Scandinavian airspace.

Earlier, Norway scrambled F-35 fighter jets under a Quick Reaction Alert mission to intercept a Russian Il-38 maritime patrol aircraft approaching its airspace. According to Defense Blog on April 19, the aircraft was launched from Evenes Air Station, identified the target during a two-hour sortie, and returned to base as part of standard NATO air policing procedures.

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