T Intel Report
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Intel Report Having no dedicated fighters of their own, the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been protected by NATO air policing assets since 2004. Alan Warnes spoke to those involved in a busy few months for the latest fighter rotations. BAP’swo Baltic Air Policing are approaching the airspace of while Magyar Légier ˝o (Hungarianhot although the HUNAF did include summer (BAP) quick reaction alerts NATO allies. These aircraft often Air Force, HUNAF) JAS 39C/D a dual-seat JAS 39D to allow T (QRAs) are manned by don’t identify themselves correctly Gripens worked alongside Ejército pilots to keep proficient in some armed jets at Šiauliai (Lithuania) or otherwise fail to communicate del Aire (EA, Spanish Air Force)/ areas of their flying and for the and Ämari (Estonia). They are not with air traffic control or file correct Ala 12 EF-18M Hornets at Šiauliai. detachment commander – who alone – Albania, Montenegro and flight plans. Generally, the Russian As lead nation of the 50th BAP was not current – to get some Slovenia also rely on other NATO armed forces have been guilty detachment at Šiauliai, the HUNAF flying hours when available. countries to defend their skies. The of the latter ‘offences’ in recent remained on 24/7 alert – known All nations spent time escorting alliance’s most recent member, years and interceptions over the as ‘hot’ – throughout its four- Russian fighters, bombers and Montenegro, joined in June 2017 Baltics have been frequent. This month stay. Meanwhile, RAF and transport aircraft heading over and a year later Italy and Greece summer was no exception. EA personnel rotated weekly, the Baltic Sea in international began aerial patrols of the country. to assume ‘hot’ responsibility waters. The majority were flying NATO’s air policing jets are tasked Joint effort alongside the Hungarians. When to or from Kaliningrad, the to respond to military or civilian Three nations covered the BAP they were ‘cold’, the British and Russian exclave situated between aircraft in distress or to intercept effort from May 1 to August 30. Spanish detachments stood Poland and Lithuania. There aircraft that are not following RAF Eurofighter FGR4s from No 11 down to train. All nations had is a major Morskaya Aviatsiya international flight regulations and (Fighter) Squadron were at Ämari, four jets, as is now standard, Voenno-morskogo Flota (MA 30 // November 2019 #380 www.Key.Aero 30-34 IntelReport AFM Nov2019.indd 30 07/10/2019 09:14:50 ‘In association with ....’ airforcesintel.Airforcescom Intelligence “I have been fortunate enough to intercept all the Sukhoi family based up here – Su-24, Su-27, Su-30, Su-34 and Su-35” Capt Dávid Szentendrei, HUNAF Above: JAS 39C serial 9240 lands at Ämari air base prior to the Czech Republic taking over as resident QRA nation from the RAF. Five Gripens left Čáslav for Estonia on August 30. This jet demonstrates a QRA ‘fi t’, with AIM-120C-5 AMRAAMs, AIM-9M Sidewinders and a Litening pod. The pod has been used by both Hungarian and Czech Gripens for long-range air- to-air interception. Crown Copyright BAP’s hot summerVMF, Russian Naval Aviation) Russian aircraft not ‘squawking’ base at Chkalovsk in Kaliningrad, their interrogator friend or foe (IFF) hosting units including the 4th codes to identify themselves. Independent Guards Naval The EA hit the headlines Attack Regiment (4 OMShAP) on August 13, when one of operating Su-24M, Su-27P/UB/ its EF-18Ms had a close call UP and Su-30SM jets. The 689th with a Russian Su-27. NATO Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment spokesperson Oana Lungescu (689 GvIAP) re-formed there last said of the encounter: “Two jets year, initially with the Su-27M3, [EF-18Ms] from NATO’s Baltic Air but should eventually receive Policing mission were scrambled Su-35s. It’s hardly surprising the to visually identify an aircraft, as airways between the Russian is routine. They monitored the motherland and Kaliningrad are planes at a safe distance, but one The Hungarian Air Force intercepted several Russian Aerospace Forces Su- busy, especially with regular of the Russian fighters conducted 35s armed with the AA-12b ‘Adder’ – an enhanced version of the Vympel R-77 exercises and VIP visitors. The an unsafe manoeuvre cutting into (inboard) – and AA-11 ‘Archer’ (R-73, outboard). This Su-35 is escorting Tu- situation is often worsened by the flight path of one of the NATO 134AK RF-65573, a VIP transport named ‘Saint Petersburg’. HUNAF via author www.Key.Aero #380 November 2019 // 31 30-34 IntelReport AFM Nov2019.indd 31 07/10/2019 09:15:18 Intel Report jets. The Russian Tu-214 aircraft, escorted by two Su-27 fighters, was tracked over the Baltic Sea near NATO airspace in the early afternoon of August 13. The Tu-214 had a valid flight plan. However, the two escorting Su-27s flew without a flight plan, their transponders were switched off and they did not communicate to air traffic control.” Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu was apparently on board the Tu-214, flying back to Moscow from Kaliningrad. Above: A Russian Navy Su-30SM armed with two AA-11 ‘Archer’ infrared- Close encounters with BAP guided AAMs is escorted through international waters off the Baltic coast by three BAP nations were fairly open fighters – as well as Finnish, Hungarian Air Force Gripens. HUNAF via author Below: Brigadier General Ugrik about the work they carried out, Norwegian and Swedish jets – now Csaba, the Kecskemét base commander, headed up the Hungarian Air Force even releasing images of air-to- occur regularly and, according to detachment at Šiauliai. Alan Warnes air interceptions. However, the the Western air arms, sometimes RAF was less keen on publicising lead to ‘dangerous’ manoeuvres the new MBDA Meteor beyond- from the Russian side. Speaking visual-range air-to-air missiles ahead of this year’s Paris Air (BVRAAMs) that armed the Show in June, Swedish Air Force Typhoons. Press releases only commander Major General Mats mentioned that they were fitted Helgesson described the Russian with the infrared-guided Advanced flying as “extremely unprofessional”. Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile One of his S 102B Korpen (ASRAAM) and radar-guided AIM- electronic intelligence jets was 120 Advanced Medium-Range Air- involved in an aggressive encounter to-Air Missile (AMRAAM). During with a Russian Su-27 back in May, No 6 Squadron Typhoons 2014 and the incident regularly detached to Luleå-Kallax in features in Swedish Air Force northern Sweden for Exercise briefings to highlight alleged poor ACE, to test the Meteor in what behaviour on the Russian side. was described as a “a challenging and complex scenario”. At this RAF Meteor debut point, pilots could only simulate Over the four-month Operation the missile’s performance since Azotize deployment, RAF none were fitted to the aircraft. Typhoons conducted a total of The Hungarian detachment was 21 interceptions of 56 Russian headed up by Brigadier General aircraft in the skies around Estonia. Ugrik Csaba, the base commander They encountered a wide range at Kecskemét where the Gripens of Russian aircraft from transports are normally stationed. However, to Flanker fighters and on June with the runway there currently 25, Typhoons launched twice to under intercept three Russian aircraft. repair, the Unlike previous occasions, the Hungarian 32 // November 2019 #380 www.Key.Aero 30-34 IntelReport AFM Nov2019.indd 32 07/10/2019 09:15:34 ‘In association with ....’ airforcesintel.Airforcescom Intelligence Control and Reporting Centre upgrade Using Link 16, BAP pilots receive the recognised air picture (RAP) from the Baltic Control and Reporting Centre (CRC)/ Four of the Czech Gripens departed with 20 live missiles between them, including this example which carries two AIM-9M Sidewinders on the wing tips and four AIM-120C-5 AMRAAMs. It was easier to get the missiles to Estonia Control and Reporting Post (CRP) this way, rather than transporting them by C295 or road. Alan Warnes at Karme ' lava in Lithuania. The three Baltic states QRA shifted to Pápa, while Brig enough to intercept all the Sukhoi Szentendrei continued: “They have developed the Baltic Air Gen Csaba went to Lithuania for family based up here – Su-24, are generally professional, but if Surveillance Network (BALTNET), Hungary’s third BAP deployment. Su-27, Su-30, Su-34 and Su-35.” they are escorting a high-value a military co-operation framework Its 14-strong fleet of Gripens The Su-35s were particularly asset like the Il-20/22 Coots to provide for the acquisition, covered QRAs in five countries interesting since they were armed and [A-50] Mainstays, they don’t co-ordination, distribution and over the summer. As well as the with the recently upgraded beyond- let us get close. The Su-35s display of air surveillance data three Baltic states, the jets in visual-range AA-12b Adder air- came from the north, from St within the three nations. Pápa also protected the skies to-air missile, the Vympel R-77-1 Petersburg, because as far as Until now there has only been over Hungary and Slovenia. (izdeliye 170-1), also referred to as we know they are not based in one CRC at Karm e ' lava manned by Four HUNAF Gripens manning the RVV-SD for export. According Kaliningrad – they just came down personnel from all three nations, the Baltic QRA were each armed to Douglas Barrie, Senior Fellow here and then turned back.” providing tactical airspace with two AIM-120C-5 AMRAAMs for Military Aerospace at the Hungarian Gripens are equipped command and control. Karm e' l a v a and two AIM-9M Sidewinders and International Institute for Strategic with the Litening III laser designator receives, processes and displays were very active, racking up 488 Studies (IISS), “the Vympel R-77- pod (LDP), for long-range air-to- radar data coming from the three sorties and 534 flight hours.