Tense moment Swedish fighter jets intercept Russian warplanes over the Baltic Sea - on the day Scandinavian nation's flag was raised at NATO HQ

Swedish fighter jets intercepted Russian warplanes over the Baltic Sea, marking a significant moment in their integration with NATO.

The Swedish JAS-39 Gripen jets stormed the skies alongside German and Belgian aircraft on Monday morning after their flag was hoisted at NATO headquarters, in Brussels.

Following Sweden's official accession to the alliance on March 7, its multi-role jets participated in their first visual identification mission as part of the NATO Air Policing mission over the Baltic Sea.

In a show of operational readiness, the JAS-39 Gripens were scrambled twice on March 11 to identify and intercept Russian military aircraft. 

NATO's Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC) at Uedem had spotted an unidentified track over the Baltic Sea stretching from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia - sparking controllers to launch the Swedish jets from Sweden.

Sweden's JAS-39 Gripen operated alongside a German Eurofighter to intercept a Russian An-26 warplane in an incredible display of intergration within NATO Air Power

Monday's visual identification missions were the first time the Swedish Gripen jets had been scrambled by NATO. The tense events also took place on the Scandinavian nation's fourth day as a NATO member

German fighters have been responsible for the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission at Lielvarde since March 1, but were joined on Monday by their Swedish allies

They also ordered Belgian F-16 fighter jets to launch from Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania.

Once the allies had taken to the skies, they both visually identified a Russian Tu-134 military aircraft that was not on a flight plan.

Another Russian military aircraft - an Antonov An-26 turboprop - was intercepted later in the same day by the Swedish Jas-39 Gripen jets and German Eurofighters.

The An-26 had appeared on NATO's radar screens and in a tense moment, the CAOC alerted the German Quick Reaction Alert Interceptors at Lielvarde who launched the track.

Sweden's seamless operation alongside the Germans demonstrated how they are already integrated within NATO's Air Power.

'This first real-world mission of Swedish Gripen occurred only days after becoming a NATO member,' NATO said in a statement. 

'It is an impressive demonstration of the deep integration the Swedish Air Force has achieved with NATO Air Policing forces.' 

The Scandinavian nation's joining of NATO adds strength to their power and control over the Baltic region

Sweden's leader said: 'The Russian, brutal, full-scale invasion against Ukraine united Sweden behind the conclusion that a full-fledged NATO membership is the only reasonable choice'

The sequence of events proved the impressively dynamic nature of NATO Air Policing operations and the quick response required from member nations.

'This swift coordinated reaction of NATO jets from Belgium, Germany, and Sweden safeguarding the skies over the Baltic Sea region underlines the close integration and responsive command and control arrangements within the Alliance,' wrote NATO's Allied Air Command. 

German fighters have been responsible for the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission at Lielvarde since March 1, while Belgian jets have been deployed to Šiauliai since December 1, 2023. 

After the visual identification missions had concluded, the NATO jets from Belgium, Germany, and Sweden, returned to their bases.

But this isn't the only recent example of NATO members being scrambled to carry out a double-interception mission of Russian warplanes over the Baltic Sea.

NATO said that two French Mirage 2000-5s intercepted a Russian SU-30-M aircraft over the Baltic Sea last month

Last month, NATO revealed that two French Mirage 1000-5s intercepted a Russian SU-30-M aircraft before trapping another Putin warplane north of Poland.  

It came after the Russian president made a direct threat to nuke the West as he accused NATO and the US of 'preparing to strike' Russia in his annual address to the nation.

Monday's double Russian warplane interception taking place on the same day Sweden's flag was raised at NATO headquarters was also a fresh blow to Russia's tyrant leader Putin, two years on from his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Sweden became the 32nd member of the alliance during a ceremony on March 11 that saw Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Crown Princess Victoria, and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg watch two soldiers raise the blue banner emblazoned with a yellow cross among the official circle of national flags.

Kristerrson boldly said: 'The Russian, brutal, full-scale invasion against Ukraine united Sweden behind the conclusion that a full-fledged NATO membership is the only reasonable choice.'

Sweden's instant display of active engagement signifies it's commitment to fulfilling its obligations within the alliance and strengthens the collective defense posture in the Baltic region - dubbed NATO's lake after they joined the military alliance.

The Scandinavian nation's joining of the alliance adds strength to its power and control over the region and makes it easier for NATO to reinforce its vulnerable Baltic states.

The move has also sparked theories that Western allies, including the UK and US, will be in a strengthened position to crush the crucial Russian shipping route if a war with Moscow breaks out. 

But Moscow will still be able to threaten undersea infrastructure from its bases near St Petersburg and in heavily-armed Kaliningrad, with experts warning that NATO must remain alert to the Russian threat.