Summary

  • Swedish Gripen jets intercepted a Russian Su-24 Fencer, limiting potential threats with ease.
  • Diplomatic concerns raised as Russia violated Swedish airspace, reflecting increased aggression.
  • Gotland’s historical significance prompted Sweden to reinforce defenses amid Russian aggression.

On the afternoon of June 14, a Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 “Fencer” breached Swedish airspace east of the strategic island of Gotland. For the newest member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the incident caused a diplomatic stir and a scramble of two Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets.

Scrambling JAS 39 Gripens to intercept a Fencer

According to multiple sources, Sweden first issued radio warnings to the incoming Russian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24 Fencer fighter bomber. When the Su-24 Fencer decided to press on, the Swedish government decided to scramble two Saab JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets to monitor the Fencer’s airspace violation and get visual identification. Below is the official Swedish Armed Forces photograph from one of the Gripens:

skarmklipp_plan-6 - Russian Su-24 Fencer down low over water

Photo: Swedish Armed Forces

Although it is clear now that the Fencer was armed with only a 23 mm Gryazev-Shipunov GSh-6-23M rotary cannon with 500 rounds and was packing external fuel tanks; the Swedes knew it could have been armed with a wide assortment of ground attack weapons, from free-fall bombs and rockets to guided missiles to even a nuclear weapon. Additionally, the Fencer is well known for its ability to fly low to deliver its ordnance.

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As such, the Swedes felt a duty to intercept it with two JAS 39 Gripens to ascertain and reduce the risk to Sweden. Had the Fencer posted an actual threat, the Gripens would have provided a credible option to destroy the Fencer with the Gripen’s air-to-air missiles and 30mm cannon.

The JAS 39C Gripens were able to visually identify the Fencer and escort the Fencer out of Swedish airspace. For the Gripens, this was an easy task as the Gripen is a multi-role fighter.

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But two fighter jets conducting an intercept was only the start of the response to the airspace incursion. There was also a diplomatic response.

Swedish and Russian responses

The Swedish Air Forces Chief Jonas Wikman, according to a Swedish language June 15 statement Google translated into English, said,

“The Russian action is not acceptable and shows a lack of respect for our territorial integrity. We followed the entire process and were there to intervene. The act reflects the general security situation with a less secure environment and more aggressive behaviour on the Russian side.”

Additional concerns were raised by the Foreign Minister Tobias Billström who pledged to reach out to Russian counterparts. However, the Russian government did offer these initial thoughts via their Russian News Agency TASS yesterday:

“The Russian Defense Ministry has repeatedly stated that Russian military aircraft carry out their sorties in strict compliance with international air law.”

Nonetheless, safe to say the Swedes were alarmed by a combat aircraft flying at low altitude towards the Swedish island Gotland. There is some historical importance.

Historical importance of Gotland

For the Swedish, Gotland has historical significance as an island swapped when Sweden and Russia were last at war in 1808. Additionally, with Russia’s War on Ukraine that started with the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, the former Swedish policy to leave the island undefended was reversed.

According to an April 26, 2023 Atlantic Council report, Gotland has gained significant military reinforcement in the past decade. Air defenses have been reactivated and when Russia decided to initiate a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, CV90 infantry fighting vehicles patrolled Visby, the largest city on Gotland. Additionally, Sweden decided to end its neutrality policies and join Finland in as a NATO member to better network with her neighbors and respond to Russian aggression.

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