"NATO Jets Intercept Large Numbers of Russian Jets" Topic

Looks like the Baltic Region is continuing to remain fairly hot, given the number of aerial interceptions of Russian aircraft in the region:

link

Russia seems to be trying to maintain pressure on the small Baltic States, and on the EU/NATO front, with continued sorties of some of their latest model jets in the region.

Again, they are doing nothing technically wrong (they are in international airspace) but by flying right along the Estonian airspace border are certainly acting in an intimidating fashion.

Question: I'm aware that NATO also carry out routine patrols, but do NATO aircraft routinely fly right along the Russian border?

I suspect this was also unannounced, with no flight plan and with transponders turned off, necessitating a rapid response to confirm the identity and intention, and again the risk to scheduled traffic (not to mention the chances of a navigational error leading to an inadvertent straying over the border, and an equally inadvertent SAM which could really ruin your day) makes this a reckless and negligent act.

NATO increased their announced intelligence flights – many right up to the border – According to Russian claims, but reported by the European Leadership Network, to c3,000 in 2014.

Both sides seem to have forgotten the arrangements they came to in the 1980s to reduce tension and are playing silly sods.

NATO don't need these flights – they have other means and both sides should wind down the posturing.

There was a story I read about Sparta. Sparta was negotiating with a small state. A visiting dignitary from another state said 'Look, you're bigger and stronger, your army could easily move in take what you want by force,' The response was basically 'Yes, but they would try and stop us, and if it keeps happening – well, we don't want to teach them how to fight.'

Russia is currently setting things up to teach a lots of small states how to fight – and that's good for us.

The most important difference between US/NATO flights and these Russian flights is that the US/NATO flights are on announced flight plans and with their transponders ON.

Showing up in controlled airspace (everything above 18,000ft up to 65k is controlled) with your transponders OFF is a serious violation. Far worse than driving the wrong way on the autobahn/interstate.