Swedish Air Force Gripen Fighters Intercept Russian Su-30SM/SM2 and Su-35 Combat Aircraft over the Baltic

In the days before and after the Russian drone incursion into Poland, the Swedish Air Force confirmed the interception over the Baltic of Russian Armed Forces combat aircraft, as well as signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft, by its JAS-39 Gripen fighters, in coordination with Denmark.

In recent days, following the Russian drone incursion into Poland —which was intercepted and shot down— NATO has been reinforcing its eastern flank with the deployment of personnel and fighter aircraft, in addition to activating other capabilities under Operation Eastern Sentry.

At the same time, several incidents between NATO forces and the Russian Armed Forces have been reported in other regions. Evidence of this includes confirmation that a Russian drone entered Romanian airspace last Saturday, while in the Baltic, combat and signals intelligence aircraft flights have been recorded.

In the latter case, the Swedish and Danish Air Forces responded on September 12 and 14 with QRA missions, after confirming the presence of contacts operating in international airspace without flight plans and with their transponders turned off.

In the first episode on September 12, Swedish Air Force Gripen fighters were scrambled and intercepted a pair of Russian Naval Aviation fighters. As shown in officially released images, these were a Su-30SM and a Su-30SM2 —armed with Kh-31 air-to-surface missiles— belonging to the Baltic Fleet.

At the same time, it was also confirmed that Royal Danish Air Force fighters intercepted an Il-20M signals intelligence aircraft, a platform specialized in ELINT/COMINT gathering and operated by the Russian Aerospace Forces.

Later, just a few hours ago, the Swedish Air Force again reported that its Gripens were scrambled, deployed over the Baltic in circumstances similar to those of September 12, intercepting a Sukhoi Su-35 fighter from the VKS, which, unlike the earlier encounter, was not armed with visible missiles or other weaponry.

Although such incidents are recurrent between NATO forces and the Russian Federation, the current context adds elements that prevent any easing of tensions. The recent attacks recorded in Ukraine coincide with the incursion into Poland, the launch of Operation Eastern Sentry, while in Belarus the combined exercise ZAPAD 2025 —one of the most important for the Russian and Belarusian Armed Forces— is taking place.

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