Images released last week by the Spanish Ministry of Defense and analyzed on February 1 by the aviation specialist website Aviationist, show a Russian navy Su-30SM2 multirole fighter jet flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea, close to the airspace of eastern flank NATO member states.

A Spanish EF-18M fighter jet, stationed in Lithuania, scrambled to monitor the Russian aircraft operating in the area. The total number of aircraft deployed by Moscow remains unclear.

"Russian fighter jets regularly traverse international airspace over the Baltic Sea," noted military aviation expert David Cenciotti. "However, what made this particular flight noteworthy was the aircraft's weapon configuration. The Su-30SM2 was armed with two Kh-31 hypersonic missiles, whose specific variant (anti-ship or anti-radar) was not identified, in addition to two RBK-500 cluster bombs."

A Russian Su-30SM2 fighter jet over the Baltic Sea, in an image published on January 28. *Photo: Spanish Ministry of Defense*

While Russian Su-30SM fighters patrolling the Black Sea are typically armed with Kh-31 missiles and cluster bombs – the latter having been deployed to destroy Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessels – this marks the first time images of this aircraft model carrying such a weapon configuration have emerged in the Baltic Sea.

It remains unclear whether this deployment constitutes a show of force or if the Russian Su-30SM2 fighter was merely conducting a patrol, training exercise, or a ferry flight.

TASS news agency reported last week that aircraft from the Russian navy's Baltic Fleet participated in a pre-planned exercise, which included ground target attack drills.

Su-30SM2 fighter jets and Su-24M attack aircraft practiced fire support, aerial reconnaissance, and precision bombing missions at a training ground in the eastern Kaliningrad Oblast. They also rehearsed scenarios involving engagement with enemy aircraft and air defense systems.

"Information from TASS suggests that the Su-30SM2 observed in the Baltic Sea was likely involved in or directly participating in the exercise, rather than simply conducting a patrol or a show of force," Cenciotti stated. "Regardless, it's a very interesting sight."

Location of the Baltic Sea. *Graphic: BBC*

The three Baltic states – Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia – have repeatedly accused Russian fighter jets or uncrewed aerial vehicles of violating their airspace. All are NATO members and share borders with Russia or Belarus.

In September 2025, Estonia reported that three Russian MiG-31 heavy fighter jets entered its airspace in the Gulf of Finland for 12 minutes. Russian officials denied the accusation.

By Pham Giang (According to Aviationist, AFP, Reuters)