Poland scrambled F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft to intercept a Russian reconnaissance plane flying over the Baltic Sea without a transponder or filed flight plan.
According to the Operational Command of the Polish Armed Forces, the jets identified and escorted an Ilyushin Il-20 conducting a mission in international airspace. The aircraft did not enter Polish airspace but was monitored and guided out of the area.
Officials emphasised that such interceptions are routine measures used to maintain airspace security and identify aircraft that fail to comply with international aviation rules.
The incident is part of a pattern of similar activities, with multiple interceptions of Russian aircraft reported in recent months—not only by Poland but also by other NATO members in the Baltic and Nordic regions. Analysts suggest these flights are used both for intelligence gathering and to test NATO’s response capabilities.