Polish fighter jets scramble to intercept Russian aircraft over Baltic Sea

Polish aircraft scrambled on 6 May to intercept a Russian Il-20 military plane over the Baltic Sea.

Source: European Pravda, citing Polish Armed Forces Operational Command

Details: The Polish military reported that on 6 May, a pair of MiG-29 fighter jets on duty from the 22nd Tactical Aviation Base in Malbork intercepted and visually identified a Russian Il-20 aircraft.

According to Operational Command, the Russian Il-20 took off from an airfield in Kaliningrad Oblast and flew on a reconnaissance mission in international airspace over the Baltic Sea.

The aircraft did not enter the area above Polish territorial waters.

The command added that the same aircraft had been intercepted by a pair of Polish F-16 fighter jets on 3 May.

Previously: 

• German Eurofighter jets stationed at Laage Air Base took off on 26 April to intercept a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
• In 2023, NATO air forces in Europe were scrambled over 300 times to intercept Russian military aircraft approaching NATO airspace, with most interceptions taking place over the Baltic Sea.

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