Poland scrambles fighter jets to intercept Russian plane over Baltic Sea
Photo: Polish MiG-29 fighter jet (facebook.com/UkrainianLandForces)
On Monday, May 6, Poland scrambled fighter jets to intercept a Russian Il-20 military aircraft over the Baltic Sea, according to the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces.
As reported, yesterday two MiG-29 jets, which were on duty from the 22nd Tactical Aviation Base in Malbork, intercepted and visually identified a Russian Il-20 aircraft.
According to the command, the Russian Il-20 took off from an airfield in the Kaliningrad region and conducted a flight in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea, performing a reconnaissance mission.
However, the aircraft did not enter the airspace over Polish territorial waters.
Military officials noted that the same aircraft was intercepted by a pair of Polish F-16s on May 3.
Interception of Russian aircraft
On April 26, German Eurofighter jets took off to intercept a Russian Il-20 military aircraft detected over the Baltic Sea.
In February, the German Air Force scrambled a Eurofighter fighter jet to intercept a Russian Il-20M military aircraft that was detected near Finland.
Earlier, Norwegian F-35 jets intercepted Russian bombers and fighters. They were detected near NATO airspace.
Poland regularly scrambles its fighter jets during Russia's missile attacks on Ukraine.
Read more about why Poland raises its fighter jets during Russian attacks on Ukraine but does not activate its air defense system in the material of RBC-Ukraine.
