**PARIS** — The frequency of NATO fighter jet scrambles to intercept Russian military aircraft approaching allied airspace over Europe in **2024** has not significantly changed from **2023**, despite heightened concerns among Western leaders regarding Russian aggression and hybrid warfare targeting European countries within the alliance.
**NATO’s Allied Air Command** in **Ramstein, Germany**, reported that there has been “no sensitive uptick” in Russian air activity over Europe. An official informed Defense News that the number of intercepts has remained relatively stable. In **2023**, NATO air policing missions scrambled over **300 times** to intercept Russian military aircraft, predominantly over the Baltic Sea.
The air-policing mission, which dates back to the Cold War, has gained renewed importance following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in **February 2022**. NATO now faces a conflict on its eastern front that has led to Russian threats, suspected sabotage acts in the Baltic, and violations of EU airspace by drones targeting Ukraine.
In **2024**, NATO forces across Europe conducted over **400 total scrambles**. Most scrambles are initiated when aircraft approach European borders without proper identification or communication with air traffic control. Allied Air Command did not disclose specific numbers regarding scramble locations, citing the potential security risks such information might pose to ongoing operations.
The scrambles to monitor Russian military aircraft peaked in **2022**, with numbers nearly doubling to **570** compared to the previous year, coinciding with increased Russian military activity and the bolstered NATO presence on Europe’s eastern flank, as reported by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and citing DPA.
In response to Russia’s aggression, European NATO members have reinforced their presence in the Baltic states and on the eastern front. Various European air forces contribute a range of aircraft for air policing, including **F-35s** from the Netherlands and Norway, **F-16s** from Belgium, **Eurofighters** from Italy and Britain, **F/A-18s** from Spain, and **Rafales** from France.
In **November**, **Estonia** completed significant runway renovations at **Ämari Air Base** to better support air policing missions in the Baltics. The Dutch were the first to operate NATO jets from the revamped base in **December**. Additionally, NATO held its first one-on-one dogfighting event at **Ramstein Air Base** in **June** since **1994**.
Historically, Russian military aircraft along NATO’s eastern flank have not consistently transmitted transponder codes indicating their position and altitude, have failed to file flight plans, or have not communicated with air traffic controllers. According to Allied Air Command, most encounters between NATO and Russian jets are safe and professional, with breaches of NATO airspace by Russian military aircraft being relatively rare and of brief duration.
*Rudy Ruitenberg is a Europe correspondent for Defense News, having begun his career at Bloomberg News and accumulating experience in reporting on technology, commodity markets, and politics.*
