Šiauliai, February 2 - In late January 2026, Spanish Air Force EF-18M Hornet fighters, operating under NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, successfully intercepted Russian Naval Aviation aircraft over international waters in the Baltic Sea. The Spanish jets, from Wing 15 (Ala 15) and deployed to Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania as part of the Vilkas Tactical Air Deployment, were scrambled to identify and escort the approaching aircraft flying near NATO airspace without submitted flight plans or active transponders. This routine yet critical interception underscores the ongoing vigilance maintained by allied forces in the region to ensure airspace security and compliance with international aviation norms.
Among the intercepted aircraft was a Russian Navy Su-30SM2, a modernized multirole fighter assigned to Naval Aviation (MA VMF). The aircraft, bearing tail number RF-81885 and the callsign "81 Blue," was photographed from close range by the Spanish Hornets. While Su-30SM variants frequently appear in Baltic airspace during patrols or transit flights, this particular encounter drew attention due to the jet's armament configuration. The fighter carried a mix of munitions rarely documented in this operational theater, highlighting a potentially more aggressive posture during the sortie.
The Su-30SM2 was equipped with a pair of Kh-31-series missiles on its inboard underwing pylons, likely the Kh-31A anti-ship variant or the Kh-31P/PK anti-radiation version designed to target enemy radar systems. Additionally, two RBK-500 cluster bombs were mounted on ventral stations, capable of dispersing submunitions over wide areas for strikes against ground or area targets. This combination, integrating standoff anti-ship/anti-radiation capabilities with cluster munitions, represents an uncommon loadout for routine flights near NATO boundaries, differing from the more typical air-to-air focused configurations observed in prior intercepts.
The incident reflects heightened operational readiness amid regional tensions, with Spanish forces demonstrating professional execution of their NATO commitment. The EF-18M pilots identified the aircraft, maintained safe escort until the Russian jets returned to their designated airspace, and returned to base without incident. Such engagements remain a standard feature of Baltic Air Policing, reinforcing collective defense while monitoring military activities in this strategically sensitive area.