Nato fighter aircraft were scrambled seven times to intercept Russian military aircraft flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea between 19 and 25 September.

The aircraft, conducting the Nato air policing mission in the Baltic States, first intercepted an IL-18 and one AN-12 aircraft from Russia on 19 September.

The Russian aircraft were flying towards Kaliningrad without using onboard transponders, but maintained communication with air traffic control centres.

"The Russian aircraft were flying towards Kaliningrad without using onboard transponders, but maintained communication with air traffic control centres."

An AN-26 from Russia bound for Kaliningrad was identified and escorted away from mainland Russia.

On 22 September Nato aircraft identified and escorted one AN-12 and one AN-26 flying away from Kaliningrad and towards the mainland in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

An NA-27, with the onboard transponder on, maintained radio communication with air traffic control centres and was intercepted on its way to the mainland of the Russian Federation.

On 23 September, Nato air policing aircraft intercepted an IL-18 flying from Kaliningrad towards mainland Russia.

The aircraft maintained communication with air traffic control centres and had a flight plan pre-filed, but its onboard transponder was switched off.

Nato routinely conducts air policing using national aerial surveillance systems, air traffic management, interceptor aircraft or other air defence measures to provide security to its member states.

Image: The shadow of an aircraft. Photo: © Ministry of National Defence Republic of Lithuania.