Russian jets prompt quick reaction from Finnish and Swedish air forces

After two Russian fighter jets took off from the Kaliningrad region and operated in international airspace without filing a flight plan, a Finnish F/A-18 Hornet and a Swedish JAS-39 Gripen were scrambled. The STT agency reported the incident on Wednesday.

The pilots of the Russian fighters were heading towards their own country’s territory but did not make contact with civil air traffic control - it was conveyed.

The joint Swedish-Finnish operation escorting the Russian fighters out of the Baltic on Monday was carried out as part of the Quick Reaction Alert.

As confirmed by NATO, the allied base in Uedem, Germany, as well as the Finnish and Swedish forces, reported the presence of Russian fighters flying over international waters.

Finland joined NATO in the spring of 2023 and Sweden in March 2024. The air forces of both countries are responsible for overseeing their airspaces, which are now also part of the joint NATO airspace. The Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC), located in Germany, ensures the coordination of activities and is responsible for the surveillance mission in Northern Europe.