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NATO F-16s Scramble Over Baltic Sea to Intercept Russian Su-35 Fighter and An-12 Aircraft
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Portuguese F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets intercepted Russian military aircraft over the Baltic Sea as part of NATO’s Air Policing mission, NATO Allied Air Command reported on May 6.
According to NATO, the Portuguese fighters intercepted a Russian Antonov An-12 transport aircraft and a Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet operating near alliance airspace.
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The aircraft involved in the mission are currently deployed at Estonia’s Ämari Air Base as part of NATO Air Policing 2026.
NATO officials said this marked the sixth time since April 1 that the Portuguese aviation detachment had been scrambled to respond to Russian aircraft activity in the region.
The latest interception comes amid continued Russian military aviation activity near NATO borders in the Baltic region.
Earlier in May, fighters participating in NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission were reportedly scrambled three separate times over one week to identify and escort Russian aircraft accused of violating flight regulations.
In late April, Swedish and Danish fighter jets also intercepted Russian Tupolev Tu-22M bombers escorted by Su-35 fighters over the Baltic Sea.
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