Throughout a current mission, Spanish Air Drive F-18M Hornets intercepted a Russian Naval Aviation Su-30SM2 carrying an uncommon loadout for operations over the Baltic area.
On Jan. 28, 2026, the Spanish Ministry of Protection launched particulars about an attention-grabbing mission carried out by Spanish Air Drive EF-18M (or F-18M) plane deployed to Šiauliai, Lithuania, in assist of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission within the Baltic Sea area.
The Spanish Hornets, belonging to Ala 15 and working as a part of DAT (Tactical Air Deployment) Vikas, intercepted an unspecified variety of Russian fight plane flying over worldwide waters close to NATO airspace. Based mostly on the pictures launched by the Spanish MOD, one of many Russian jets was a MA VMF (Russian Naval Aviation) Su-30SM2.
Protection analyst and Russian aviation skilled Man Plopsky famous that the airframe, Bort No. “81 Blue” / RF-81885, is assigned to the 4th Guards Composite Aviation Regiment (SAP) at Chernyakhovsk AB, in Kaliningrad Oblast.
A really clear photograph taken from a Spanish Hornet exhibiting an MA VMF Su-30SM2 (Bort No. “81” Blue / RF-81885) assigned to the Kaliningrad-based 4th SAP. It’s seen right here armed with a pair of Kh-31A anti-ship or Kh-31P/PK anti-radiation missiles and two RBK-500 collection cluster bombs. pic.twitter.com/XVozsrfvRk
— Man Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) January 29, 2026
Whereas Su-30SM plane are frequent guests to worldwide airspace over the Baltic area, what makes this intercept significantly noteworthy is the plane’s peculiar loadout. The Su-30SM was carrying a pair of Kh-31A anti-ship or Kh-31P/PK anti-radiation missiles, together with two RBK-500 collection cluster bombs.
“If the Kh-31s have been the anti-ship variant, this may symbolize considered one of their maritime strike loadouts. In the event that they have been the anti-radiation variant, then this may be considered one of their SEAD/DEAD loadouts,” Plopsky instructed us.
A payload combining cluster bombs with both anti-ship or anti-radiation missiles has been noticed a number of instances within the Black Sea area, the place Russian Su-30SMs assigned to the forty third Unbiased Naval Assault Aviation Regiment (forty third OMShAP) have employed cluster bombs in opposition to Ukrainian USVs (Unmanned Floor Vessels).
1/ A nonetheless picture from a newly launched Russian MoD video exhibiting an MA VMF Su-30SM assigned to the Black Sea Fleet’s forty third OMShAP. The multirole fighter is seen armed with two R-77-1 medium-range air-to-air missiles and two RBK-500-series cluster bombs. pic.twitter.com/4rnQ26V5Jz
— Man Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) September 23, 2024
A Russian Naval Aviation (MA VMF) Su-30SM2 (B/N “86” Blue) multirole fighter, seen right here armed with a single Kh-31PM anti-radiation missile (ARM) or Kh-31AD anti-ship missile (AShM) and what look like a pair of RBK-500 collection cluster bombs. pic.twitter.com/dbi35ngcZx
— Man Plopsky (@GuyPlopsky) February 27, 2025
Russian Sukhoi Su-30SM fighter jet flying at low altitude drops an unguided aerial bomb with cluster warhead on a Ukrainian unmanned floor vessel (USV) within the Black Sea waters.
Fairly unorthodox manner of combating USVs. pic.twitter.com/JnxlAK1ifk
— Standing-6 (Battle & Army Information) (@Archer83Able) January 28, 2026
However that is the primary confirmed time the identical loadout is seen within the Baltic area. It’s unclear whether or not the Russian multirole plane was conducting a present of pressure or a routine patrol, flying a coaching sortie, or transiting on a ferry flight to or from mainland Russia. In any case, the sighting is admittedly attention-grabbing.
Tactical Air Detachment (TAD) “Vilkas”
TAD “Vilkas”, Lithuanian for “wolf”, is a Spanish Air and House Drive Tactical Air Detachment tasked with air surveillance and airspace safety on NATO’s japanese flank.
Since early December 2025, Spain has taken the lead of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission as a part of Operation Persistent Effort. On the identical time, TAD Vilkas has been working below the improved Vigilance Exercise (eVA) Japanese Sentry framework, which goals to strengthen defensive measures throughout the realm of accountability and stop unidentified plane from approaching or violating Allied airspace. In doing so, the detachment contributes on to NATO’s collective protection and, finally, to Spain’s personal safety.
The detachment consists of round 200 personnel drawn from a variety of items and specialties, from flight operations to logistics and pressure safety. It operates a fleet of twelve plane: eleven EF-18M Hornet fighters from Ala (Wing) 15 at Zaragoza and a single TK23 A400M transport plane from Wing 31, additionally based mostly in Zaragoza. Altogether, this represents Spain’s largest air deployment to NATO’s japanese flank so far and highlights the dimensions and effectiveness of the Alliance’s air policing mission.
