No hesitation: Hungarians capture Russian aircraft on their first mission
Less than a week after assuming command of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, Hungarian Air Force Gripen fighter jets were scrambled for their first real alert. During the 8 August 2025 mission, they intercepted Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea that had violated international aviation regulations.
Without radio contact or flight plan
The Hungarian JAS–39 Gripens launched from Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania at 11:26 local time, intercepting the targets at an altitude of 11,000 meters, according to Hungary’s Ministry of Defence. The unidentified aircraft had no radio communication with air traffic control, no filed flight plan, and were not transmitting any transponder signals. Due to these infractions, NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre in Germany issued an Alpha Alert.
- Hungarian Gripens intercepted multiple Russian jets in the Baltic airspace
After completing the intercept and identification, the Gripens returned to base. The Ministry of Defence’s official statement confirmed the aircraft were Russian, although Defence Minister Kristóf Szalay-Bobrovniczky only referred to them as “unidentified aircraft” in a Facebook post.
Guarding Baltic airspace for four months
From 1 August through the end of November, Hungary is leading the Baltic Air Policing mission with around 80 personnel and four Gripen jets, operating under NATO command alongside Spanish and Italian partners, according to HVG. Since Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined NATO in 2004, allied forces have safeguarded their airspace in four-month rotations.
This marks Hungary’s fourth deployment in the mission, following previous rotations in 2015, 2019, and 2022. The current rotation is the 69th since the initiative began.
Also guarding six other nations’ airspace
Hungarian Gripens aren’t only active over the Baltics. They’re also providing air defence for Slovakia, Slovenia, and Croatia. These countries retired their Soviet-era fighter fleets—some of which were transferred to Ukraine—and have yet to deploy new aircraft types.
Read more military-related news on Daily News Hungary.
Read also:
- Tragic: Two Hungarian soldiers died recently
- Hungarian Gripens head to Baltics for a NATO mission – again!
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