Sweden on June 13 (local time) said it had deployed JAS 39 Gripen fighters the day before to intercept Russian military aircraft appearing near the Swedish border.
According to a statement from the Swedish military, 2 separate incidents occurred on June 12, when Russian Su-24 and Su-34 fighter jets were operating in the Baltic Sea region. However, these aircraft did not enter Swedish airspace.
Vice Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum - Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces Operations Command - said: "Swedish and allies' fighters acted quickly, resolutely and clearly by approaching Russian aircraft, thereby protecting the territory of Sweden and the alliance.
Since Sweden joined NATO in 2024, a series of military incidents, including unmanned aerial vehicles illegally entering airspace and Russian submarines appearing near Swedish waters, have made the Baltic Sea region the focus of tension.
In recent years, incidents of Russian military aircraft appearing near NATO airspace have become quite frequent. In March, Canada and the United States also deployed fighters to intercept 2 Russian military aircraft flying too close to the air defense identification zone of Alaska.
