On 13 June 2026, the Swedish incident readiness force conducted two scrambles with JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft to intercept Russian combat aircraft in the Baltic Sea near Swedish airspace.
The Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) reports that the incidents occurred in the southern and northern parts of the Baltic Sea. Two pairs of JAS 39 Gripen aircraft were scrambled to assert territorial integrity and to intercept and identify the Russian combat aircraft. Swedish airspace was not violated in connection with the incidents.
The Russian aircraft were of the types Su-24 and Su-34. Allied combat aircraft also scrambled during the incidents to maintain security in the shared airspace.
"Russian behaviour of this kind is serious and represents a recurring pattern that threatens both our territorial integrity and security. Swedish and allied combat aircraft acted swiftly, resolutely, and clearly by intercepting the Russian aircraft and securing the territory of Sweden and the Alliance," said Vice Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum, Head of the Swedish Armed Forces Joint Operations Command.
The Swedish Armed Forces states that, in light of an increased threat to allied airspace in the surrounding region, it has reinforced its presence and adjusted its readiness posture accordingly.