Finland, Sweden scramble jets to intercept Russian aircraft

For illustration purposes only. Swedish and Finnish fighter jets were scrambled over the Gulf of Finland to identify a Russian military aircraft formation flying in international airspace. ― AFP pic

First Published: Friday, 25 Sep 2026 5:17 PM MYT

HELSINKI, Sept 25 — Finland’s air force said today that Swedish and Finnish fighter jets had been scrambled to identify Russian fighter jets flying over the Gulf of Finland.

The air force said that the two Nordic countries’ Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) jets had been scrambled yesterday.

They had identified a Russian detachment consisting of a Tu-134 transport aircraft, MiG-31 fighter jets and Su-30 fighter jets “in international airspace over the Gulf of Finland.”

According to the military it was the first joint operational “identification mission” for the two air forces.

Tensions over the Baltic Sea have risen sharply in recent years, and Nordic jets are regularly scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft.

In the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Sweden and Finland both dropped decades of military non-alignment and joined NATO.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson commented on the operation on X, saying that “the Baltic Sea has never been as vulnerable as it is now — but it has also never been better protected than it is right now.” — AFP