Key PointsFrench Rafale fighters in Lithuania conducted four Baltic Air Policing interceptions in one week and identified six Russian aircraft.The intercepted aircraft included a Russian Il-20M intelligence plane and a Su-30SM fighter near Baltic airspace.French Rafale fighter jets deployed to Lithuania under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission were scrambled four times in a single week, intercepting and escorting six Russian military aircraft near the airspace of the Baltic states, France’s Armed Forces General Staff said.The sorties were carried out as part of France’s current rotation at Šiauliai Air Base, where French crews are supporting NATO’s standing air defense mission over Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Video released by the French military shows Rafales escorting a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M electronic intelligence aircraft and a Su-30SM fighter operating near allied airspace.The intercepts were conducted in coordination with other NATO forces assigned to the mission. French officials said the flights are part of the alliance’s continuous effort to protect Europe’s eastern flank and maintain quick reaction alert coverage over the Baltic region. - ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW - One of the aircraft identified during the recent scrambles was the Il-20M, a Russian signals intelligence platform used for electronic surveillance missions. The aircraft is equipped to collect radar emissions, communications traffic, and other electronic signatures, making it a frequent focus of NATO monitoring flights near the alliance’s borders.Open-source analysts at OSINT Warfare said the aircraft appeared to be armed with two Kh-31P or PM anti-radiation missiles, weapons typically used to target radar systems and surface-based air defenses.French Rafales involved in the mission reportedly used the Thales TALIOS targeting and laser designation pod during the intercept. Although commonly associated with strike missions, the pod also gives pilots high-resolution long-range visual identification capability, allowing crews to confirm aircraft type and visible weapon loads from a safer distance.That added visual reach is particularly useful during Baltic Air Policing operations, where the primary task is to identify and monitor military aircraft flying close to NATO airspace.France took over the current Baltic Air Policing rotation at the end of March, deploying four Rafale fighters and about 100 personnel to Lithuania. From there, the aircraft remain on round-the-clock alert, ready to launch on short notice whenever unidentified or military aircraft approach the region.The NATO mission has been in place since 2004, when Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia joined the alliance without their own dedicated fighter fleets. Allied nations have since rotated aircraft detachments through the Baltic states to provide continuous air defense coverage.No hostile incident or airspace violation was reported during the latest French scrambles. Still, four launches in one