Sweden and Finland intercept Russian military aircraft in first joint operation

On September 24, 2026, Finland and Sweden conducted their first joint military operation, scrambling F/A-18 Hornet and JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to intercept a Russian formation—including a Tu-134, MiG-31s, and Su-30s—over the Gulf of Finland. Operating under a new Quick Reaction Alert agreement, the mission highlights deepening Nordic integration within NATO amid rising regional tensions, airspace violations, and hybrid threats since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The joint intercept operation

• ▪On September 24, 2026, Finland and Sweden scrambled fighter jets together for the first time to intercept and identify Russian military aircraft over the Gulf of Finland
• ▪The Russian military aircraft formation intercepted by Finnish and Swedish fighter jets on September 24, 2026, remained in international airspace over the Gulf of Finland
• ▪The Russian embassies in Stockholm and Helsinki did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the September 24, 2026, joint intercept operation by Finland and Sweden
• ▪Finland and Sweden's joint intercept mission on September 24, 2026, involved Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets

Quick Reaction Alert agreement

• ▪The joint intercept by Finland and Sweden on September 24, 2026, was the first operation conducted under Finland and Sweden's new Quick Reaction Alert cooperation agreement
• ▪The Quick Reaction Alert cooperation agreement between Finland and Sweden allows Finnish and Swedish fighter aircraft to operate from each other's air bases

Previous aerial intercepts

• ▪On June 12, 2026, Sweden scrambled Gripen jets twice to intercept Russian Su-24 and Su-34 strike aircraft operating near Swedish airspace
• ▪Between August 31, 2026, and September 6, 2026, NATO fighter jets scrambled at least three times to intercept Russian aircraft near the Baltic states

Debatable claims

• ▪Joining NATO has decreased the national security of Sweden and Finland
• ▪Scrambling jets to intercept Russian aircraft in international airspace is justified
• ▪Joint Swedish-Finnish military operations make the Baltic Sea region safer