Baltic Air Policing

[Lofty89]

Quiet month..

1/8/16 1220z RAF Baltic Air Policing Typhoons callsigns EI01 & EI02 scrambled from Amari to intercept an RUAF An-26 RF-36135 / 32 over the Baltic Sea.

[Lofty89]

8/8/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF IL-20 over the Baltic Sea flying from mainland Russia to Kalliningrad.

[Lofty89]

12/8/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF IL-20 over the Baltic Sea flying from Kalliningrad to mainland Russia.

[Lofty89]

16/8/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF An-26 over the Baltic Sea flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad.

[Lofty89]

25/8/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF IL-20 over the Baltic Sea flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad.

[Lofty89]

French Air Force 1/2 Fighter Squadron Mirage 2000s have arrived in Šiauliai, Lithuania for their four month (August-December 16) Baltic Air Policing duties.

40/2-EX arrived 28/8/16
57/2-ET arrived 28/8/16
62/2-ED arrived 28/8/16
67/2-MH arrived 28/8/16

German Air Force TLG-74 EF2000s arrived 30/8/16 in Ämari, Estonia from Neuburg for their four month deployment.

30+24 Arrived as GAFN01A 30/8/16
30+23 Arrived as GAFN0?B 30/8/16
30+32 Arrived as GAFN02A 30/8/16
??+?? Arrived as GAFN0?B 30/8/16
30+30 Arrived as GAFN69A 1/9/16

[3EABFD]
[3EA509]

Official handover is on the 31st of August.

[C24]

Thanks for these posts Nick. As Mick hasn't spotted it, there is only one "l" in Kaliningrad

[Lofty89]

Busy-ish week in the Baltic...

30/8/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF IL-20 over the Baltic Sea flying from Kaliningrad mainland Russia. The aircraft flew according to the flight plan, was in contact with air traffic control, but had its transponder off.

31/8/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF/Navy An-24 over the Baltic Sea flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad. The aircraft didn't have a flight plan, was in contact with air traffic control and had its transponder on.

2/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF An-12 and a RUAF Tu-134 over the Baltic Sea flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad. Both aircraft had a flight plan, were in contact with air traffic control and had their transponders on.

4/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF Tu-134 and 2x Su-27 over the Baltic Sea flying from Kaliningrad mainland Russia. The Tu-134 flew according to its flight plan, was in contact with air traffic control and had its transponder on. Both Su-27 aircraft were flying without a flight plan, were not in contact with air traffic control and didn't have their transponders on.

[Lofty89]

9/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF IL-76 over the Baltic Sea flying from mainland Russia towards Kaliningrad. The aircraft did not have pre-filed plan but maintained radio communication with air traffic control and had its transponder switched on.

13/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF AN-12 over the Baltic Sea flying from mainland Russia towards Kaliningrad. The aircraft had pre-filed plan, maintained radio communication with air traffic control but had its transponder switched off.

14/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept 1x RUAF IL-78 and 1x RUAF IL-76 flying according to a pre-filed flight plan, in international airspace over the Baltic Sea, away from Kaliningrad towards mainland Russia. The aircraft maintained communication with air traffic control, and had its transponder switched on.

16/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF IL-20 over the Baltic Sea flying from mainland Russia towards Kaliningrad. The aircraft had pre-filed plan, maintained radio communication with air traffic control but had its transponder switched off.

17/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF IL-20 over the Baltic Sea flying from Kaliningrad towards mainland Russia. The aircraft had pre-filed plan, maintained radio communication with air traffic control but had its transponder switched off.

19/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF IL-20 over the Baltic Sea.

20/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF An-26 over the Baltic Sea.

[C24]

FYI

The Swedish Airforce has a Gulfstream up on patrol over international waters. Seems to be there most days.

[Lofty89]

19/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF IL-18 and one RUAF AN-12 over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft were flying from mainland Russia towards Kaliningrad with their transponders off, though with pre-filed flight plans and maintained communication with air traffic control.

20/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF AN-26 Russian aircraft bound for Kaliningrad from mainland Russia over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft maintained communication with air traffic control, had a flight plan but its transponder was switched off.

22/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept one RUAF AN-12 and one RUAF AN-26 flying from Kaliningrad towards mainland Russia over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft had their transponders switched off, though were flying according to pre-filed flight plans and maintained communication with air traffic control.

22/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF AN-72 flying from Kaliningrad towards mainland Russia over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft was flying according to a pre-filed plan, with its transponder on, and maintained radio communication with air traffic control.

23/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF IL-18 flying from Kaliningrad towards mainland Russia. The aircraft maintained communication with air traffic control, had a flight plan pre-filed but its transponder was switched off.

26/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF IL-20 over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft was bound for Kaliningrad from mainland Russia over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft maintained communication with air traffic control, had a flight plan but its transponder was switched off.

[Lofty89]

26/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF AN-26 bound for mainland Russia from Kaliningrad over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft maintained communication with air traffic control, had a flight plan but its transponder was switched off.

28/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets intercepted an RUAF An-12 on its way from Kaliningrad towards mainland Russia. The aircraft flew according to a flight plan, kept radio contact and its transponder was switched on.

29/9/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF IL-20 over the Baltic Sea flying from Kaliningrad towards mainland Russia. The aircraft had pre-filed plan, maintained radio communication with air traffic control but had its transponder switched off.

[skywatch]

Looked like another intercept this morning with unid a/c Squawking 1322 at 560kts in the Gulf of Finland. C/s field from the transponder was "DONOTUSE" ...... Anyone have more on this?

Skywatch.

[Lofty89]

German Typhoons were scrambled from Amari, unclear what it was for at the minute

[Lofty89]

6/10/16: Baltic Air Policing jets conducted ten scrambles to intercept Russian aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic Sea:

- Su27 aircraft flew out of and then returned to the Russian mainland eight times. The aircraft did not have flight plan, did not maintain radio contact, and did not use transponders.

- One An26 was flying from the mainland to Kaliningrad according to a flight plan and keeping radio contact, but did not use its transponder.

- One Su27 flew out of Kaliningrad and later returned; it did not have flight plan, did not maintain radio communication, and its transponder was off.

7/10/16: Baltic Air Policing jets conducted seven scrambles to intercept Russian aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic Sea:

- One An26 flew from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia without a flight plan, with its transponder switched off, but maintained radio contact.

- Su27 aircraft took off from Kaliningrad and later returned three times. The crew did not have flight plan, did not maintain radio contact, and did not use transponders.

- One Su24 took off from and later returned to Kaliningrad, the crew did not have a flight plan, did not maintain radio contact and did not use its transponder.

- One IL20 flew from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia according to a flight plan, in radio contact with air traffic control, but without the transponder switched on.

- One An12 flew from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad according to a flight plan, maintained radio contact, but the onboard transponder was switched off.

8/10/16: Baltic Air Policing jets scrambled to intercept an RUAF IL-20 over the Baltic Sea which took off from and later returned to Kaliningrad. The aircraft did not have a flight plan, did not maintain radio contact and did not have its transponder on.

[skywatch]

Thank you for the detailed updates Nick.

Now I understand why the Swedish government has sent an urgent military package to Gotland. Not just airforce but a lot of army stuff and even a submarine. The Swedes do seem to spend a lot of time monitoring Kaliningrad and there is an air base there that is the size of Fairford and could host any jets or bombers in the Russian AF. I suppose they fear a 'pincer' attack from St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad. Not being a full NATO member makes them more likely to be attacked... But they do have some unique equipment if needed....

[C24]

GLF4 has been ploughing its usual furrow over the sea for the last two & a half hours.

[Lofty89]

17/10/16: NATO fighters identified and escorted an RUAF An-26 in international airspace over the Baltic Sea. The aircraft was flying from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad according to a flight plan, maintained radio contact with air traffic control and had its transponder on.

[C24]

Good morning Ivan & FCers,

I have just noticed that SVF623 has just reached it's northern turning point and is on the first southerly leg of the day's mission.

Not the most exciting job in the aviation world but an essential one none the less. So I would like to start a Fan Club for the crew.

Please join in. Just keep an eye open for them.

Charlie

[Lofty89]

8/11/16: Baltic Air Policing aircraft identified and escorted two RUAF aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic Sea:
One An-12 bound for Kaliningrad from mainland Russia, the aircraft had a flight plan, was maintaining radio contact, but had its transponder off.
One Tu-134 flying according to flight plan from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia, maintaining radio contact, with its transponder switched on.