4 Russian jets tracked by Sweden
The Swedish Air Force yesterday tracked four Russian combat aircraft flying with their transponders turned off over the Baltic Sea, officials said.
The Russian planes — two long-range, nuclear-capable Tu-22M3 bombers and two Sukhoi Su-27 fighters — were flying in international airspace, said Sweden’s armed forces.
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom called it “unacceptable” for the Russian planes to be flying with shut-off transponders that are necessary for identifying aircraft on radar, calling it violation of international aviation rules.
“This has happened now on a number of occasions and in a very challenging way,” Wallstrom told reporters in Stockholm.
“We are tired of always having to protest against this kind of ... breach of rules.”
NATO and Sweden, which is not a member of the alliance, have reported an increase in Russian air maneuvers over the Baltic Sea in recent years.
Yesterday’s sighting comes as Finnish and Swedish military aircraft begin training with United States fighters over the Baltic Sea, and American and NATO forces continued military exercises in the Baltic countries.
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