NATO fighter jets stationed at Lithuania's Zokniai Air Base escorted Russian military aircraft 24 times in June near the Baltic republic's airspace. The Lithuanian Defense Ministry reported the first week of June was the most active, with seven escorts.
UK fighter jets intercepted a Russian Bear-F maritime patrol aircraft that approached the HMS Prince of Wales carrier strike group in the Norwegian Sea. The Russian plane flew close and dropped sonobuoys before being escorted away by F-35 jets.
President Vladimir Putin inspected new Russian aircraft, including the Il-114-300, SJ-100, and MS-21, in Zhukovsky. He will later attend a meeting on aviation development. Deliveries and mass production for these aircraft are slated for 2026-2027.
Sweden scrambled fighter jets on Friday to intercept two Russian military aircraft that approached its borders in the Baltic Sea region. The Swedish military stated the Russian planes did not enter Swedish airspace, but Vice Admiral Ewa Skoog Haslum called the actions "serious" and a threat to territorial integrity.
Russia's Putin expressed readiness for Ukraine peace deal compromises, while French jets intercepted Russian aircraft 11 times in the Baltics. Baltic states face airspace chaos from stray Ukrainian drones targeting Russian oil ports.
Indian airlines have expressed demand for 100-200 Russian Il-114-300 and SJ-100 aircraft, according to Vadim Badekha, head of United Aircraft Corporation (UAC). UAC also signed an agreement with India's HAL for potential licensed production of the SJ-100.
United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) CEO Vadim Badekha stated that Russian-made aircraft could account for over 50% and potentially up to 100% of Russia's aircraft fleet, driven by patriotism, common sense, and economic efficiency. He also emphasized the growth potential of civilian aircraft manufacturing.
The Russian aircraft fleet consists of 1,089 airplanes at present, including 689 foreign ones and 391 domestically produced
