NATO air forces in Europe scrambled more than 300 times in 2023 to intercept Russian military aircraft approaching Alliance airspace, with most encounters occurring over the Baltic Sea. NATO has air-policing missions in place that require Allied jets to respond when signs of Russian military planes approaching in unpredictable ways are detected. Russian military aircraft along NATO’s eastern flank have a history of not following standard procedures like transmitting a transponder code or communicating with air traffic controllers.
Despite the high number of intercepts, the majority of aerial encounters between NATO and Russian jets were safe and professional. Breaches of NATO airspace by Russian military aircraft were rare and of short duration. NATO has significantly bolstered its air defenses on its eastern flank in response to the security threat posed by Russia’s war in Ukraine. Fighter jets, surveillance flights, and ground-based air defenses have been increased, with additional fighter jets deployed to Romania and extra capabilities sent to the Baltic Sea region.
NATO’s air defense measures have been further strengthened by the deployment of more fighter jets, increased surveillance flights, and additional ground-based air defenses. The Alliance held its largest air exercise ever, “Air Defender 23,” involving over 250 aircraft training for the collective defense of NATO. Acting NATO Spokesperson Dylan White emphasized the importance of air policing in providing security for NATO Allies, especially in the face of suspicious or unannounced flights near Alliance airspace.
