NATO jets scrambled three times last week to identify and escort Russian aircraft

NATO jets scrambled three times last week to identify and escort Russian aircraft operating in international airspace. According to the account, NATO aircraft lifted off to locate two Su-30s flying between the Kaliningrad region and mainland Russia, with no flight plans filed. The Su-30s maintained radio contact with the regional air traffic control center (RVSC) and had transponders switched on. On 14 July, NATO jets identified an Il-20 with its transponder switched off and no flight plan; the crew did not respond to calls from air traffic control. The same day, an Il-76 flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad was also identified with a transponder switched on, but without a filed flight plan, while maintaining radio contact with RVSC.