Turkey Deploys AEW&C Jet to Lithuania Amid Rising NATO-Russia Tensions
Turkey sent an AEW&C radar aircraft to Lithuania between 22–25 September under NATO Assurance Measures, Turkish Ministry of Defence confirmed.
Turkey has deployed a Airborne Warning and Control System, AEW&C aircraft to Lithuania as part of NATO’s Assurance Measures, underscoring the alliance’s stepped-up vigilance against Russia’s growing incursions into allied airspace. Turkish Defense Ministry spokesperson Rear Admiral Zeki Aktürk confirmed that the aircraft operated over Lithuanian skies from 22 to 25 September and noted that two Turkish F-16s also joined an Integrated Air and Missile Defense drill over Romania on 25 September.
The deployment comes amid a surge of Russian violations across NATO’s eastern flank. On 19 September, three Russian MiG-31 fighters entered Estonian airspace for 12 minutes, flying without transponders or communication. NATO reported that Italian F-35s intercepted the jets. Days earlier, Russian drones crossed into Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia simultaneously, triggering immediate scrambles by NATO fighters. Such incidents have led to fears of deliberate testing of NATO’s readiness.
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The deployment comes after a series of Russian airspace violations in September 2025. NATO reported that on 19 September, three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets entered Estonian airspace for 12 minutes near Vaindloo Island, flying with transponders switched off and ignoring air traffic control. Italian F-35s scrambled to intercept the aircraft. In the same week, NATO detected mass drone incursions when Russian kamikaze drones crossed into the airspace of Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia simultaneously.
The drones triggered immediate responses by NATO air policing jets, which for the first time since the Ukraine war directly engaged Russian assets and shot down several drones. On 19 September, Russian fighter jets also carried out low-altitude flights over two Polish oil platforms, Petrobaltic and Baltic Beta, in the Baltic Sea.
Warsaw condemned the flights as “provocative and dangerous,” warning that civilian and strategic infrastructure was being openly threatened. Following these incidents Suspicious drone activity spread beyond Eastern Europe. Russia denied that all accusations. Estonia and Poland described the incursions as “provocative and dangerous,” while NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned, “This does not mean we would not immediately shoot down an aircraft if needed. We assess the situation first. But, if necessary, we will do what is required.” French President Emmanuel Macron echoed the need to “step up a notch” but cautioned against direct escalation. In contrast, U.S. President Donald Trump signalled openness to a tougher approach, aligning with Poland and the Baltic states.
