PARIS — To intercept Russian military aircraft approaching allied airspace over Europe, even as Western leaders grow concerned about Russian aggression and hybrid warfare targeting European countries in the alliance. The number of scrambles by NATO jets is almost unchanged in 2024 and 2023.
NATO Allied Air Forces Command in Ramstein, Germany, has seen “no sensitive increase” in Russian air activity over Europe, an alliance official told Defense News. The number of interceptions was “about the same” as last year, with NATO air security missions conducting well over 300 scrambles to intercept Russian aircraft approaching alliance airspace, primarily over the Baltic Sea.
The alliance scrambles jets 24 hours a day in case of suspicious or unannounced flights, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 meant that the air security mission established during the Cold War would be renewed. It means that it is important. NATO faces a war on its eastern front, which has led to Russian threats, suspected sabotage in the Baltic Sea, and violations of European Union airspace by drones aimed at Ukraine.
In total, NATO forces across Europe conducted more than 400 scrambles in 2024, according to Allied Air Command. In most cases, jets are scrambled when they approach European borders without properly identifying themselves or communicating with air traffic control. Allied Air Forces Command has refused to provide exact figures on how many times and where NATO jets have scrambled, raising the possibility that the data could reveal sensitive information potentially harmful to the security of ongoing operations. He said there is.
Flights to monitor Russian military aircraft reportedly peaked in 2022, nearly doubling from the previous year to 570 due to the outbreak of the Ukraine war. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, quoting DPA, said the surge was due to increased Russian military activity and a stronger NATO presence in Europe’s east, which could be used for air surveillance. This happened at a time when it meant that there would be more opportunities.
European NATO members are strengthening their presence in the Baltics and on Europe’s Eastern Front in response to Russian aggression. European Air Forces provides air security with a variety of aircraft, including Dutch and Norwegian F-35s, Belgian F-16s, Italian and British Eurofighters, Spanish F/A-18s, and French Rafales.
Estonia completed major runway renovations at Emali Air Base in November to better support air security missions in the Baltic states, and the Netherlands began operating NATO jets for the first time from the renovated base in December. did. In June, the alliance held its first one-on-one dogfight event since 1994 at Ramstein Air Base.
Russian military aircraft along NATO’s eastern flank have a history of failing to transmit transponder codes indicating location and altitude, failing to submit flight plans and failing to communicate with air traffic controllers, according to Allied Air Forces Command. . According to the command, most airborne encounters between NATO forces and Russian aircraft are safe and professional, and violations of NATO airspace by Russian aircraft are generally rare and short-lived.
Rudy Ruitenberg is Defense News’ Europe correspondent. He began his career at Bloomberg News and has experience reporting on technology, commodity markets, and politics.
