A Russian Su-30SM2 fighter jet armed with live anti-ship missiles and cluster munitions flew close to NATO airspace in a rare show of force, according to defense reports. The aircraft carried two KH-31A supersonic missiles and RBK-500 cluster bombs, weapons designed to strike naval vessels, armored units, and ground infrastructure. Spanish EF-18M fighters under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission scrambled to intercept the jet in late January. Analysts say Russian aircraft near NATO borders usually fly unarmed to avoid escalation, making this incident highly provocative. The move is seen as Moscow testing NATO’s red lines and intensifying pressure amid rising regional tensions.