While previous scrambles have involved no more than two aircraft per incident, Tuesday’s identification of two MiG-31 fighters, two Sukhoi SU-34 assault bombers and SU-24 attack planes, as well as a single Sukhoi supermaneuverable SU-27 fighter jet marks the largest cluster yet noted.
The seven military jets were identified over neutral waters in the Baltic Sea, flying without a flight plan and without engaging their automatic response mechanisms, as has been the usual BAP experience intercepting the Russian air force planes.
NATO Baltic Air Policing QRA Eurofighter jets on 28 OCT scrambled to intercept RU Armed Forces 2x MiG-31, 2x Su-34, 1x Su-27, and 2x Su-24.
— NBS (@Latvijas_armija) October 28, 2014
On Wednesday, just a day after the seven-plane squadron was cited, the NBS tweeted about another scramble, this time as BAP jets intercepted two more SU-24s again over neutral waters near Latvian airspace in the Baltic Sea.
NATO Baltic Air Policing QRA F-16 jets on 29 OCT scrambled to intercept RU Armed Forces I2x Su-24 over the Baltic Sea (close to LV border).
— NBS (@Latvijas_armija) October 29, 2014
Later Wednesday afternoon, yet another tweet noted the sighting of five more Russian fighter planes near Latvian skies, prompting the BAP to intercept again.
NATO Baltic Air Policing QRA F-16 jets on 29 OCT scrambled to intercept RU Armed Forces 2x Su-24, 2x MiG-31,1x Su-27 over the Baltic Sea.
— NBS (@Latvijas_armija) October 29, 2014
