Gripen fighter jets, Photo: Kalle Parkkinen / Shutterstock Editorial
A Russian reconnaissance aircraft was spotted in the skies near the Polish border, prompting a swift NATO response. The Alliance immediately scrambled two Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter jets to intercept the aircraft, which had invaded the airspace over the Baltic Sea. The NATO Air Command reported this on social media platform X.
According to official information, it was an Il-20 electronic reconnaissance aircraft that was flying with its transponder switched off and did not respond to air traffic control signals.
The Swedish Air Force operated within the framework of the Baltic Air Policing mission, which involves patrolling and protecting the airspace of the Baltic States and neighbouring territories.
This incident is yet another indication of the intensification of Russian military intelligence near NATO’s borders. The Alliance calls on Russia to comply with international aviation safety rules, warning that such provocations will not go unanswered.
