British Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon jets intercepted Russian aircraft near NATO airspace along the alliance’s eastern flank, the UK Ministry of Defence confirmed on Sunday. The interception took place on Thursday near the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, in a show of vigilance amid rising tensions in the Baltic region.
Two RAF Typhoons were scrambled from Malbork Air Base in eastern Poland to intercept an “unknown aircraft” departing Kaliningrad and approaching NATO-controlled skies. The aircraft was monitored and escorted away from the area without incident, the UK government said.
Repeat Interception in Baltic Sea Earlier in the Week
Just two days prior, another pair of British Typhoon jets from the same base were deployed to intercept a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea. The Il-20M, known for its intelligence-gathering capabilities, was operating in international airspace but prompted a response due to its proximity to NATO territory.
British Jets Support NATO Enhanced Air Policing
The RAF presence in Malbork is part of NATO’s enhanced air policing mission, a rotational deployment aimed at protecting alliance airspace. In late March, British Typhoons arrived in Poland to support this mission, alongside NATO’s newest member, Sweden.
The UK’s active role in this air policing rotation underscores the alliance’s commitment to collective security, particularly along NATO’s eastern border, where Russian military activity remains under close scrutiny.
