Breaking News: British fighter jets in Poland scrambled six times in six days to intercept Russian Intel aircraft
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According to information published by the British Royal Air Force on June 13, 2025, Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets of the British Royal air Force (RAF) based at the 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork, Poland, have executed six NATO enhanced Air Policing (eAP) missions within six days, intercepting a total of 15 Russian military aircraft operating close to NATO airspace. The missions, conducted from June 7 to June 12, 2025, mark the most intense operational period since the RAF deployed to Poland under Operation Chessman on April 1, 2025, and underscore a significant spike in Russian intelligence-gathering flights over the Baltic region.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
British Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets scrambled over Baltic skies on June 7, 2025, to intercept Russian An-30 CLANK reconnaissance aircraft near NATO airspace. (Picture source: British Royal air Force)
Operation Chessman represents the UK’s commitment to NATO’s collective defense architecture, contributing both aircraft and personnel to the enhanced Air Policing mission. The British RAF (Royal Air Force) contingent is formed under the 140 Expeditionary Air Wing and includes Typhoon FGR4 multirole combat aircraft. These fourth-generation fighter jets are equipped with advanced radar, sensor fusion capabilities, and a wide suite of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, making them ideally suited for high-speed intercept and identification missions.
The British Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets have been executing Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) scrambles at a high operational tempo, often performing multiple intercepts within a single sortie. On Saturday, June 7, 2025, RAF pilots were scrambled to identify an aircraft departing the Kaliningrad Flight Information Region. The aircraft was confirmed as an Antonov An-30, NATO codename CLANK, a Soviet-era turboprop reconnaissance platform used for aerial photography. After completing this intercept, the same Typhoon pair was re-tasked to shadow an Ilyushin Il-20M COOT A, a communication and electronic intelligence (COMINT/ELINT) surveillance aircraft designed during the Cold War for signals intelligence collection.
According to RAF sources, the dual intercept on June 7, 2025, demonstrated the flexibility and readiness of the deployed forces. Pilots described the mission as an intense operational engagement that reaffirmed the realities of modern air policing, requiring immediate vector updates and rapid profile adjustments from NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre.
On Sunday, June 8, 2025, RAF aircraft were again scrambled to intercept two unknown contacts leaving Kaliningrad FIR. These were identified as Su-24M FENCER D, supersonic tactical bombers known for their role in low-level strike missions. The two aircraft split up during the intercept, requiring individual shadowing by the Typhoon fighters. Alarmingly, one of the Su-24s conducted provocative low-altitude flybys of the USNS William McLean, a U.S. Navy dry cargo ship operating in international waters, highlighting the growing assertiveness of Russian military aviation.
June 9, 2025, mirrored earlier missions with the second intercept in 48 hours of both an An-30 CLANK and an Il-20M COOT A. These repeated sightings reveal a pattern of persistent Russian intelligence operations near NATO airspace. On June 10, 2025, RAF Typhoons were scrambled again, first intercepting another Il-20M, before conducting a mid-air refuel with a Luftwaffe Airbus A400M Atlas. This operation extended their on-station time, enabling further interceptions of a second An-30 CLANK and later a Tupolev Tu-142 BEAR F, a maritime patrol aircraft specialized in anti-submarine warfare, escorted by two Su-27 FLANKER B fighters. The presence of these long-range platforms and escort fighters indicates a coordinated reconnaissance operation directed at NATO naval and air activities.
On June 11, 2025, RAF Typhoons intercepted yet another An-30 CLANK operating near NATO borders. The next day, June 12, 2025, they were again scrambled—this time to identify and shadow two Su-24 FENCER aircraft, before being redirected to an Il-20 COOT A, again highlighting the diversity and regularity of Russian air traffic challenging NATO surveillance and airspace boundaries.
The RAF’s presence in Poland is part of NATO’s broader strategy to maintain constant vigilance and credible deterrence along the Alliance’s eastern flank. With the integration of Sweden into NATO, Operation Chessman now includes coordination with one of NATO’s newest members, further enhancing the operational reach and interoperability of Allied forces. RAF Typhoons, supported by logistics and operational personnel from across the service, ensure that any unidentified or potentially hostile aircraft approaching NATO airspace is promptly intercepted, identified, and if necessary, escorted away.
These recent missions serve as a stark reminder of the strategic volatility in the Baltic region and reinforce the vital role played by forward-deployed NATO air assets in maintaining the integrity of Alliance airspace. The RAF’s rapid and repeated engagement with Russian intelligence and combat aircraft demonstrates both the persistence of the threat and the readiness of NATO to respond decisively.
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According to information published by the British Royal Air Force on June 13, 2025, Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets of the British Royal air Force (RAF) based at the 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork, Poland, have executed six NATO enhanced Air Policing (eAP) missions within six days, intercepting a total of 15 Russian military aircraft operating close to NATO airspace. The missions, conducted from June 7 to June 12, 2025, mark the most intense operational period since the RAF deployed to Poland under Operation Chessman on April 1, 2025, and underscore a significant spike in Russian intelligence-gathering flights over the Baltic region.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
British Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets scrambled over Baltic skies on June 7, 2025, to intercept Russian An-30 CLANK reconnaissance aircraft near NATO airspace. (Picture source: British Royal air Force)
Operation Chessman represents the UK’s commitment to NATO’s collective defense architecture, contributing both aircraft and personnel to the enhanced Air Policing mission. The British RAF (Royal Air Force) contingent is formed under the 140 Expeditionary Air Wing and includes Typhoon FGR4 multirole combat aircraft. These fourth-generation fighter jets are equipped with advanced radar, sensor fusion capabilities, and a wide suite of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions, making them ideally suited for high-speed intercept and identification missions.
The British Typhoon FGR4 fighter jets have been executing Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) scrambles at a high operational tempo, often performing multiple intercepts within a single sortie. On Saturday, June 7, 2025, RAF pilots were scrambled to identify an aircraft departing the Kaliningrad Flight Information Region. The aircraft was confirmed as an Antonov An-30, NATO codename CLANK, a Soviet-era turboprop reconnaissance platform used for aerial photography. After completing this intercept, the same Typhoon pair was re-tasked to shadow an Ilyushin Il-20M COOT A, a communication and electronic intelligence (COMINT/ELINT) surveillance aircraft designed during the Cold War for signals intelligence collection.
According to RAF sources, the dual intercept on June 7, 2025, demonstrated the flexibility and readiness of the deployed forces. Pilots described the mission as an intense operational engagement that reaffirmed the realities of modern air policing, requiring immediate vector updates and rapid profile adjustments from NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre.
On Sunday, June 8, 2025, RAF aircraft were again scrambled to intercept two unknown contacts leaving Kaliningrad FIR. These were identified as Su-24M FENCER D, supersonic tactical bombers known for their role in low-level strike missions. The two aircraft split up during the intercept, requiring individual shadowing by the Typhoon fighters. Alarmingly, one of the Su-24s conducted provocative low-altitude flybys of the USNS William McLean, a U.S. Navy dry cargo ship operating in international waters, highlighting the growing assertiveness of Russian military aviation.
June 9, 2025, mirrored earlier missions with the second intercept in 48 hours of both an An-30 CLANK and an Il-20M COOT A. These repeated sightings reveal a pattern of persistent Russian intelligence operations near NATO airspace. On June 10, 2025, RAF Typhoons were scrambled again, first intercepting another Il-20M, before conducting a mid-air refuel with a Luftwaffe Airbus A400M Atlas. This operation extended their on-station time, enabling further interceptions of a second An-30 CLANK and later a Tupolev Tu-142 BEAR F, a maritime patrol aircraft specialized in anti-submarine warfare, escorted by two Su-27 FLANKER B fighters. The presence of these long-range platforms and escort fighters indicates a coordinated reconnaissance operation directed at NATO naval and air activities.
On June 11, 2025, RAF Typhoons intercepted yet another An-30 CLANK operating near NATO borders. The next day, June 12, 2025, they were again scrambled—this time to identify and shadow two Su-24 FENCER aircraft, before being redirected to an Il-20 COOT A, again highlighting the diversity and regularity of Russian air traffic challenging NATO surveillance and airspace boundaries.
The RAF’s presence in Poland is part of NATO’s broader strategy to maintain constant vigilance and credible deterrence along the Alliance’s eastern flank. With the integration of Sweden into NATO, Operation Chessman now includes coordination with one of NATO’s newest members, further enhancing the operational reach and interoperability of Allied forces. RAF Typhoons, supported by logistics and operational personnel from across the service, ensure that any unidentified or potentially hostile aircraft approaching NATO airspace is promptly intercepted, identified, and if necessary, escorted away.
These recent missions serve as a stark reminder of the strategic volatility in the Baltic region and reinforce the vital role played by forward-deployed NATO air assets in maintaining the integrity of Alliance airspace. The RAF’s rapid and repeated engagement with Russian intelligence and combat aircraft demonstrates both the persistence of the threat and the readiness of NATO to respond decisively.
