Typhon Raf planes intercept Russian planes near NATO airspace in Poland

Two Russian planes flying near NATO airspace were detected by British fighter planes in separate incidents earlier this week, the British Defense Ministry said.

A pair of RAF typhoons was scrambled to intercept a Russian intelligence plane ILYUSHIN IL-20M “COOT-A” on the Baltic Sea on April 15, while two other typhoons intercepted an unknown plane leaving KALINGRAD APERTIAL ESPACE on April 17.

The two interceptions, which took off from the MalBork air base in Poland, were part of the United Kingdom’s contribution to the improved NATO air police.

They were the first interceptions of the RAF since the arrival of planes in the region to start the defense of the oriental flank of NATO, working alongside Sweden.

The implication of the United Kingdom in improving the improved NATO air police is called Chessman operation and sees staff from all over the RAF deployed in MalBork alongside Sweden, the most recent member of NATO.

The company follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to increase defense expenses to 2.5% of GDP.

The Minister of the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard, said that the United Kingdom was “unshakable” in his commitment to NATO.

“With the growth of Russian aggression and security threats, we will reassure our allies, dissuade opponents and protect our national security thanks to our change plan,” he said.

Pollard added that the “mission shows our ability to operate side by side with the most recent Sweden of NATO and to defend the airspace of the alliance everywhere and whenever necessary, keeping us safe at home and abroad”.

This is not the first time that RAF planes have been used to intercept Russian planes.

Last year, two typhoons based in Raf Lossiemouth in Scotland was scrambled after a Russian bear bomber flew over the North Sea.

At the time, the MOD declared that the Russian recognition plane had been detected in the “area of ​​interest” of the United Kingdom, but could not enter the British sovereign airspace.

Fifty Russian planes were also intercepted by RAF pilots based in Lossiemouth in 2023, when 21 planes were intercepted during a period of 21 days.

In a separate incident in 2023, Typhon fighters and a Norwegian F-35A fighter was launched as part of NATO’s response to a Russian plane near British airspace.

Incidents like this – known as rapid reaction alerts – are not uncommon and involve RAF teams to observe Russian military aircraft near British airspace and during operations further, if necessary. They have occurred since the era of the Cold War.

However, interceptions are not used to follow Russian planes. In October 2024, RAF fighters were scrambled to intercept a civilian airline that had reported a bomb on board.

Subsequently, a RAF spokesperson said that the alert ended without an incident and that the Boeing 777-300 “was released to continue its original destination.”