Camilla Jessen
In their first NATO mission, Swedish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
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Swedish fighter jets were scrambled for the first time under NATO command to intercept a Russian military aircraft near allied airspace, NATO’s Allied Air Command reported on April 24.
Two JAS 39 Gripen jets launched from Malbork Air Base in Poland and visually identified a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M reconnaissance aircraft flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea, just north of the Polish coast.
“For the first time during Sweden’s contribution to NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission, Swedish Gripens launched in response to a Russian aircraft operating near NATO airspace,” the alliance said in a statement.
For the first time under NATO’s enhanced Air Policing 🇸🇪 Gripen scramble in response to 🇷🇺 aircraft close to NATO airspace
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) April 24, 2025
🇸🇪 are currently deployed to Malbork 🇵🇱 alongside the 🇬🇧RAF demonstrating seamless integration, safeguarding the integrity of Allied territory 24/7/365 pic.twitter.com/mwWO2gOtz6
The interception was coordinated by NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany.
The deployment marks Sweden’s inaugural participation in NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission following its formal accession to the alliance earlier this year. The mission, launched in 2014 after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, aims to reinforce air security along NATO’s eastern frontier.
NATO commended the smooth coordination between Swedish and British pilots stationed in Poland, highlighting the “seamless integration” of Sweden’s air force into allied operations.
Sweden has also deployed technical support teams to maintain the Gripen fleet throughout the mission.