Polish F-16s intercept Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea
Poland intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Friday; the plane was flying without a flight plan and with its transponder off, but did not enter Polish airspace.
Poland intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Friday, July 31, according to Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, who reported the incident on X.
The interception took place before noon about 40 kilometers north of the Polish city of Kołobrzeg. The minister said the Russian aircraft was flying in international airspace without a flight plan and with its transponder switched off, in breach of flight rules. Polish airspace was not violated.
Polish F-16 fighter jets were scrambled to intercept the aircraft. Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that Poland's armed forces continuously monitor the situation and respond decisively to Russian actions, maintaining close cooperation with NATO allies. Airspace security remains the top priority, he added.
This was not the first such interception in July. On July 16, Polish aviation was scrambled for the third consecutive day to intercept Russian military aircraft. The previous day, July 15, Poland had to launch aircraft to intercept a pair of Russian Su-30SM2 fighters that had taken off from the Kaliningrad region. On July 14, a pair of Polish fighters intercepted a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea.
