RAF Typhoons scrambled to intercept Russian aircraft in Nato airspace

[Celerity]

As part of new Nato mission, the jets were sent three times in three days as spy and fighter aircraft were spotted multiple times last week

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/defence/article/raf-fighters-russian-aircraft-nato-airspace-fg6lftkpq

https://archive.ph/wOo11



British fighter jets have been scrambled three times in three days to defend Nato airspace from Russian warplanes. Two Royal Air Force Typhoons were called into action from Malbork airbase in Poland on Tuesday to intercept a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M — a spy plane codenamed Coot-A which carries sophisticated surveillance equipment. The same British jets were again scrambled later that day when two of the Kremlin’s SU-30MKI fighter aircraft were spotted leaving Kaliningrad airspace by the Baltic Sea.



Less than 48 hours later, on Thursday, the Typhoons took off from the base for a third time to identify and escort an unknown aircraft that was picked up straying towards Nato airspace. The pilots confirmed the aircraft was another Ilyushin Il-20M. A spokesman for the RAF’s 140 Expeditionary Air Wing said it marked the “the third time in three days that Nato have scrambled RAF assets at Malbork”. “Today’s mission was to intercept and identify the unknown aircraft departing Kaliningrad airspace. It was not communicating, so once intercepted we shadowed the aircraft to protect civilian air traffic in the immediate area,” he added.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed on Sunday that the intercepts marked the RAF’s first scramble as part of Operation Chessman, a new Nato mission to bolster Europe’s air defences. The British fighter jets arrived in eastern Poland weeks ago to begin deployment alongside Sweden in defence of Nato’s eastern flank. Interception in aviation terms refers to when one aircraft, typically a military one, approaches another for the purpose of identification or intervention.



Luke Pollard, minister for the armed forces, said the missions proved the UK was “unshakeable” in its commitment to Nato. He added: “With Russian aggression growing and security threats on the rise, we are stepping up to reassure our allies, deter adversaries and protect our national security through our plan for change. “This mission shows our ability to operate side by side with Nato’s newest member Sweden and to defend the alliance’s airspace wherever and whenever needed, keeping us safe at home and strong abroad.”

snip

https://www.raf.mod.uk/news/articles/nato-signs-off-raf-and-swedish-air-force-to-conduct-enhanced-air-policing/

Sweden's Saab Gripen E/F Selected by Colombia in Fighter Jet Competition Against US F-16.

https://armyrecognition.com/news/aerospace-news/2025/breaking-news-swedens-saab-gripen-e-f-selected-by-colombia-in-fighter-jet-competition-against-us-f-16

[DFW]

1. I hope this was following the designated areas of engagement

And not some stepping in because Trump wouldn't send our planes to shadow those of his good buddy Vladimir......

[Celerity]

2. I believe that we (the rest of Nato, minus the US, which has forfeited its lead actor role now) get to make those calls

now.

Also, multiple nations in Nato are moving forward once again with our own programmes of nuclear weapons development and acquisition, again without the US involved in that. Under Trump (and any other MAGAt style POTUS) and his designated goon squad, the US has forfeited a lot of its right to tell the rest of Nato what to do.

We absolutely cannot count on a Trump-led US military that has been stripped of most of its top level resistance to the madman.

[RJ-MacReady]

3. The moment they cross into NATO airspace

They should be shot down. No more warnings.