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5d ago

Polish F-16s Intercept Russian Il-20 Over Baltic Sea

Poland frames the move as a safety-driven response to an unresponsive reconnaissance flight.

FILE - Two Polish Air Force Russian made Mig 29's fly above and below two Polish Air Force U.S. made F-16's fighter jets during the Air Show in Radom, Poland, on Aug. 27, 2011. In a private video call with American lawmakers over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a “desperate” plea to the United States to help Kyiv get more warplanes to fight Russia's invasion and retain control of its airspace. (AP Photo/Alik Keplicz, File)
FILE - U.S. made F-16 fighter jets fly in the sky over Poland's capital as they take part in a massive military parade to celebrate the Polish Army Day, in Warsaw, Poland, Aug. 15, 2023. Ukraine has received the first tranche of western F-16 fighter jets that it has sought for months to be able to fight back against an onslaught of Russian missile strikes, a U.S. official confirmed to the Associated Press. Ukraine has been pushing to get Western F-16s for Ukraine for months, saying they were critically needed to fight back against the onslaught of missiles Russia has fired against them. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File)
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Overview

  • Polish Air Force scrambled two F-16s to identify and escort a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea after it did not answer air traffic control.
  • Military officials said the aircraft flew in international airspace without a filed flight plan and with its transponder turned off.
  • Poland reported no breach of its airspace as the fighters escorted the plane out of their area of responsibility.
  • The same type of Russian aircraft was intercepted by Polish fighters in March, which points to recurring reconnaissance runs in the region.
  • UK defence secretary John Healey said allies have also been tracking increased Russian activity in the North Atlantic, including an attack submarine and two specialist GUGI vessels.