Swedish jets intercepted Russian bombers over the Baltic Sea on Tuesday morning, after two Tu-22M3 aircraft were detected flying above international waters. Sweden’s Armed Forces said the operation was intended to identify the aircraft and demonstrate that the Russian flight was being monitored.
Sweden deployed JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to meet the Russian bombers, but the Armed Forces did not disclose where in the Baltic Sea the encounter took place.
“The signal we are sending is that we have seen them,” Swedish Armed Forces communications officer Mikael Ågren told the newspaper Expressen.
There were no reports that the Russian aircraft entered Swedish airspace.
Swedish Gripen jets monitor the Russian flight
The Russian aircraft were identified as Tu-22M3 long-range bombers, a type of military aircraft operated by Russia’s Aerospace Forces.
Swedish authorities described the deployment as a monitoring and identification operation. Such missions allow fighter pilots to establish the type, position and direction of foreign military aircraft approaching areas close to Swedish or allied airspace.
The Swedish Armed Forces did not provide details about the number of Gripen fighters involved or whether aircraft from other NATO countries participated in the operation.
Russian authorities also confirmed that the Tu-22M3 aircraft had flown over the Baltic Sea, according to Swedish media reports.
Russian military aircraft remain active over the Baltic Sea
Tuesday’s operation was not the first time Sweden had deployed JAS 39 Gripen jets to monitor Russian aircraft in the region.
In April 2026, Swedish fighters intercepted two Tu-22M3 bombers accompanied by Russian fighter aircraft near Swedish airspace. That mission was coordinated with NATO allies, with Danish F-35 aircraft subsequently monitoring the Russian formation near Bornholm.
Swedish Gripen jets were also scrambled twice on 13 June after separate Russian military aircraft were detected in the northern and southern Baltic Sea. Swedish authorities said that Swedish airspace was not violated during those incidents.
Russian military aircraft regularly operate over international waters in the Baltic Sea. NATO countries frequently deploy fighter jets to identify and monitor them, particularly when aircraft do not transmit identification codes, communicate with civilian air traffic control or provide flight plans.
Sweden’s role in NATO air surveillance
Sweden joined NATO in March 2024, strengthening the alliance’s ability to monitor the Baltic Sea and the wider Nordic region.
The Swedish Air Force has since participated more directly in NATO air-policing operations. In 2025, Sweden deployed Gripen fighters to Poland as part of the alliance’s enhanced Air Policing mission. Swedish aircraft also led an air-policing deployment in Iceland for the first time in early 2026.
NATO has operated its Baltic Air Policing mission since Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined the alliance in 2004. As the three Baltic countries do not maintain their own fighter aircraft for air-policing duties, other NATO members rotate aircraft and personnel through bases in the region.
The interception on Tuesday reflects the continuing military activity over the Baltic Sea and Sweden’s expanded role in monitoring NATO’s northern and eastern airspace.
