Russian aviation activity forced NATO to scramble fighter jets more than three times as often
Kyiv • UNN
The number of urgent NATO fighter jet sorties to intercept Russian aircraft increased by more than 250% in a day. The reason was Russian flights without a flight plan and with transponders switched off near the Alliance.
The number of NATO fighter-jet sorties to intercept Russian military aircraft on the Alliance’s eastern flank increased by more than 250% in a single day. This was reported by NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum (JFC Brunssum) on the social media platform X, UNN writes.
Details
The command noted that a comparison of the figures for July 25 and 26 indicates a sharp increase in the number of so-called Alpha Scrambles—urgent fighter-jet sorties to intercept airborne targets.
According to JFC Brunssum, the reason was that Russian military aircraft repeatedly conducted flights near NATO airspace without filing a flight plan and with their transponder signals switched off. In response, Alliance fighter jets took off to intercept and identify these aircraft.
The numbers don’t lie! Compare July 25 with July 26, and the picture is impossible to ignore: Alpha Scrambles along NATO’s eastern flank increased by more than 250%. The reason? Russian military aircraft repeatedly flew near NATO airspace without a flight plan or transponder signal, forcing our fighters to take off, intercept, and identify them. Every scramble proves that we are vigilant. Every interception proves that NATO airspace is protected
The command emphasized that such interceptions demonstrate the readiness of Alliance forces to respond promptly to potential threats and ensure the security of NATO countries’ airspace.
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