Six Russian aircraft without transponders were identified over the Baltic Sea in two days

22 September, 2024 Russian aircraft intruder. Source: Latvian Air Force On September 20 and 21, six Russian planes were identified over the Baltic Sea region with their transponders turned off.

The Latvian Air Force reported on this. It is reported that in addition to the transponder being turned off, the Russian planes had no flight plan. German Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets deployed in Latvia as part of the Baltic Air Policing mission were flying to intercept and escort Russian aircraft.

Russian aircraft intruder.

Source: Latvian Air Force

As previously reported, Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the Italian and German air forces are deployed in the Baltic States. It is known that the Italians are stationed in Lithuania at an air base near the town of Siauliai, and the Germans are stationed in Latvia near the town of Lielvarde. "For 20 years, NATO has participated in the Baltic Sea Air Policing mission as a regional peacetime air policing mechanism.

Demonstrating the ability to share and combine available capabilities, seventeen Allies have deployed their fighter jets in successive groups to guard the skies over the Baltic Sea," NATO describes the mission. Militarnyi previously reported that the drone that crashed in the Rezekne district of Latvia on September 7 turned out to be a Shahed kamikaze drone.

Shahed-136 kamikaze drone. The photo is illustrative

Latvian defense officials stated that, based on available information, the drone's entry into Latvia cannot be viewed as an open military escalation against the country, as Latvia was not its intended target.

Defense Minister Andris Spruds stated that Latvia is already strengthening air defense on its eastern border in response to the Russian drone entry.

The Latvian Defense Ministry emphasized that the country's security forces acted in accordance with established procedures, including informing NATO command.

It is possible that the Russian drone could have passed through Lithuanian airspace.