In a new episode in the Baltic Sea, Gripen fighters of the Swedish Air Force intercepted a Sukhoi Su-24 attack aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces, which briefly violated sovereign airspace. The information was disclosed today, June 15, through an official statement from the Swedish Armed Forces.
Following what was reported in the morning, during yesterday, June 14, the presence of an aircraft of Russian origin was detected on an approach course to Swedish airspace. This development was alerted by the air traffic controllers of the Scandinavian country, who tried, without success, to establish radio contact with the aircraft in order to prevent a potential violation of sovereign airspace south of the island of Gotland.
Since no response was obtained, and the violation of airspace was confirmed, Gripen fighters from the Swedish Air Force were put on alert and deployed in order to intercept the Russian aircraft. Through officially released images, it was believed that it was a Sukhoi Su-24 supersonic attack aircraft (NATO code name Fencer).
Intercepted by the Swedish Gripen, the Su-24 was forced to leave sovereign airspace, in a fact that bears similarities to a similar episode that occurred in 2022, carried out on that occasion by two Su-27s and two Su-24s also to the south. from the Island of Gotland.
Although short-lived, the Chief of the Swedish Air Force, Major General Jonas Wikman, noted the seriousness of the situation by officially stating that: “Russian behavior is not acceptable and shows a lack of respect for our territorial integrity. We followed the entire process and were present to intervene”.
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