Swedish Air Force JAS 39 Gripen fighters intercepted multiple Russian Tu-22M3 bombers carrying Kh-22/32 anti-ship missiles over the Baltic Sea, escorted by Su-27 and Su-35S fighters. The encounters, part of coordinated NATO Baltic Air Policing, occurred without airspace violations during extended training sorties from Olenya Air Base.
At least one Tu-22M3 displayed a visibly shorter nosecone indicative of the advanced Kh-32 variant, featuring improved engine and extended range over the 1960s-era Kh-22. These supersonic maritime strike platforms can carry up to three such missiles, underscoring their threat to naval assets in contested waters.
The Russian formations departed Olenya on Russia’s Kola Peninsula, routed south past St. Petersburg, through the Finland-Estonia corridor, alongside Gotland and Latvia toward Kaliningrad, then reversed course. Missions lasted over five hours, mirroring a prior December 2024 exercise with external missile loads.
Italian Eurofighter Typhoons joined Gripens in shadowing the group near NATO borders, with Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirming compliance with international rules. No incidents or dangerous maneuvers occurred, though the operations signal heightened Russian long-range aviation activity amid regional tensions.
These intercepts highlight intensified NATO air policing demands, bolstering deterrence against potential anti-ship strikes in the strategically vital Baltic region.