Swedish jets intercept Russian aircraft in 2 separate incidents

Sweden said on Saturday that it scrambled JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets the day before to intercept Russian military aircraft that appeared to be flying near Swedish borders.

The Swedish military reported in a statement that there were two separate incidents on Friday when Russian Su-24 and Su-34 fighter jets flew in the Baltic Sea region, but never entered Swedish airspace.

“Russia’s actions are serious and are a recurring behavior that threatens both our territorial integrity and security,” Vice Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum, chief the armed forces operations command, said in a statement. “Swedish and allied fighter aircraft acted quickly, resolutely and clearly by meeting the Russian planes and securing the territory of Sweden and the alliance.”