- Category
- Latest news
Swedish Gripens Intercept Russian Jets Armed With Anti-Radiation Missiles Over Baltic
- Authors
![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
On September 14, the Swedish Air Force reported intercepting Russian combat aircraft over the Baltic Sea, underscoring ongoing aerial tensions in the region.
According to Army Recognition on September 16, Swedish JAS-39 Gripen fighters identified and escorted two Su-30 jets and an Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft operating without flight plans.
The mission was conducted in coordination with the Royal Danish Air Force as part of NATO’s Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) procedures.
Swedish Gripen fighters conducted QRA missions in international airspace over the southern Baltic. The Swedish Air Force confirmed that the intercepted aircraft included a Su-30SM and a Su-30SM2 from Russia’s Baltic Fleet. Both were equipped with Kh-31 air-to-surface missiles, a system designed for targeting ships and air defense units.
At the same time, Danish Air Force aircraft intercepted an Il-20M reconnaissance plane. Army Recognition noted that this aircraft specializes in electronic intelligence (ELINT) and communications intelligence (COMINT), allowing Russia to monitor NATO command networks and test allied air defenses.
The Su-30 family has previously been used in Syria and Ukraine, where it carried out both strike and air-superiority missions.
The Su-30SM2 variant includes upgraded avionics and weapons systems, although it remains less advanced than NATO fighters such as the Eurofighter Typhoon or F-35 in terms of stealth and integrated networking.
-a20b25b952536203e9d883fe9434fa95.png)
The Il-20M reconnaissance aircraft, which flew with its transponders switched off, provides Russia with a long-standing platform for intelligence collection. NATO counters with systems such as the E-3 AWACS and RC-135 Rivet Joint, which offer more advanced data integration across allied forces.
According to Army Recognition, the deployment of Su-30 fighters armed with Kh-31 missiles, combined with the Il-20M’s reconnaissance role, suggests a coordinated Russian operation intended to signal deterrence and gather intelligence.
The incident occurred shortly after a Russian drone crossed into Polish airspace, where it remained for several minutes before being tracked by NATO air defenses, and another drone flew for nearly 50 minutes over Romanian territory before returning to Ukraine. Both cases were confirmed by Warsaw and Bucharest as violations of allied airspace.
