According to the press release, on 3 February NATO fighter-jets intercepted the IL-76 military strategic transportation aircraft of the Russian Federation that was heading for Kaliningrad from mainland Russia over the international area of the Baltic Sea according to a pre-filed flight plan, using its onboard transponder and maintaining radio communication with the air traffic control centre.
On 6 February, NATO aviators intercepted and escorted the IL-38 maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft of the Russian Federation that was flying according to the same route as the IL-76 intercepted on 3 February, according to a pre-filed flight plan, with its onboard transponder not working, and was not maintaining radio communication with the air traffic control centre.
NATO fighter-jets were scrambled about 150 times last year to intercept Russian military airplanes flying close to the Baltic states. The NATO air policing mission is carried out from Lithuania, Estonia and Poland.
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