On the afternoon of September 21, 2023, two Italian Air Force F-35 jets, part of the Task Force Air-32nd Wing, executed their inaugural alert scramble from the Malbork Air Base in Poland following orders from NATO.
This response came after NATO radars detected Russian aircraft in international airspace over the Baltic Sea, in proximity to NATO borders.
In a swift response coordinated by NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem, the Italian F-35s were dispatched to inspect the situation. Upon reaching the location, they identified the aircraft as two Russian Federation Su-30 FLANKER fighter jets. Notably, these Russian jets were not following a declared flight plan and had made no contact with Air Traffic control.
Following their identification, the Italian F-35s escorted the Russian aircraft back towards their national borders. Throughout this encounter, both sides maintained a professional demeanor.
Importantly, the Russian aircraft did not enter NATO airspace at any point. Upon successfully ensuring the Russian jets moved away, the NATO F-35s safely returned to Malbork Air Base.
NATO fighter jets are frequently launched for such routine monitoring missions along the Alliance’s borders, including areas near the Baltic Sea shores.
Currently, the Italian F-35 detachment, known as the Task Force Air 32nd Wing, is stationed in Poland. They operate as a part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing, available round-the-clock to reinforce Alliance deterrence and defence operations.
The F35 is taking on more roles more frequently.
If the other aircraft would actually turn on transponders and talk to air traffic control perhaps constant escort from nato aircraft wouldn’t be necessary.
Fighters dont have ATC transponders , cargo and larger planes yes.
Anyway the fighters have their own radar and track and search functions that airliners dont have – their ‘radars’ are for weather so dont want to go near an airliner
So I think this is all a beatup about ATC and such
I would think for the RAF even they talk only to military ATC , who possibly pass on to the civilian system . Maybe someone can enlighten
Bizarre that they claim they escorted the Su-35s ‘out of international airspace’. the PR people clearly, as its nonsense
Most NATO fast jet’s are equipped with ADS-B transponders. These can be switched off in time of conflict. And RAF fast jet’s talk to civilian and military ATC. Especially when navigating around the UK. Airspace is very tightly controlled. You can follow Typhoons on flight tracker when they are over Lincolnshire or near shorw over the North Sea, its a free app you can have on your phone. ADS-B allows this.
All NATO “fighter” type aircraft, but also including helicopters, transport, cargo, tanker, SIGINT and AEW aircraft use a multimode identification friend or foe (IFF) system. Training aircraft normally carry a more rudimentary version. This is a standing NATO requirement. IFF predominantly has two main modes, civilian and military. Which are broken down in to sub-modes. The civilian mode emulates normal civilian air transport codes, that can transmit a height reference to the ATC secondary radar. Thereby allowing ATC to see the height of the aircraft, that a secondary radar would not normally provide. The civilian modes can be switched off… Read more »
Thanks for that . The common online software that shows where planes are – that are within a ‘home user’ ground station- picks ups I thinks it the ADSB signals shows the locations of military aircraft like C-17 , C130 even AWACS that are operation along the Ukraines borders on operational missions.
You will never see a fighter jet like the story covers , Russian or Nato.
Thanks for the detailed info but if a RC-135 or Awacs with a IFF using civilian mode can be seen why cant see these F-35s or even RAF Typhoons on north sea patrol
Yes, apps like Plane Finder use ADS-B data. They cannot use IFF data. You will find RAF Typhoons and F35s on Plane Finder. Normally when these are operating over the UK, especially flying over the low altitude training areas, the ADS-B is turned on. When flying in the air combat ranges ADS-B is normally turned off. As Typhoon and F35 has Mode 5 IFF, this provides the same type of data as ADS-B. Which means at higher altitudes it can be turned off. At low level due to the lack of published flight plans, gliders and light aircraft can be… Read more »
Fighter airplane have transponders capable of more those in civilian aircraft. 40 year avionics
(aviation electronics) tech here, check facts
before posting.