French Rafales Scramble to Intercept Russian Su-30 Fighters Near NATO Airspace

French Rafale fighter jets deployed to Lithuania under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission intercepted two Russian Su-30SM aircraft over the Baltic region.

According to Defence Blog, citing France’s Armed Forces General Staff, the alert was launched on short notice after the Russian aircraft entered the Baltic region without a filed flight plan. Rafale fighters operating from Lithuania’s Šiauliai Air Base were scrambled to identify and escort the aircraft.

France’s Armed Forces General Staff published footage of the mission and stated that the Russian aircraft had entered Baltic airspace without authorization. The military said Rafales departed from Šiauliai and escorted the aircraft away from the area.

France assumed command of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission at Šiauliai on March 31, 2026, replacing Spain. The current French deployment includes four Rafale B fighters and more than 100 military personnel. Romania is also participating in the mission.

The report noted that French aircraft operating in the Baltic region are equipped with the Thales TALIOS targeting pod, which enables crews to identify aircraft at long distances without approaching visual range. The capability is used during intercept missions involving Russian aircraft flying without transponders, radio communication, or filed flight plans.

The Su-30SM is a multirole fighter operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces and can carry up to 8,000 kilograms of weapons. The aircraft’s combat radius allows it to operate throughout the Baltic region from bases in Kaliningrad and northwestern Russia.

Šiauliai Air Base has served as NATO’s primary Baltic Air Policing hub since 2004, when Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined the Alliance without maintaining their own fighter aircraft fleets. The mission provides continuous air defense coverage for the three Baltic states through rotating deployments from NATO member countries.

The latest interception follows several previous NATO responses to Russian military flights near Alliance airspace. French Rafales conducted four separate scrambles during a single week in April, intercepting six Russian military aircraft, including a Su-30SM fighter and an Il-20M electronic intelligence aircraft.

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