RAF fighter jets scramble to defend NATO airspace from Russian aircraft (2025)

British fighter jets intercepted Russia aircraft approaching NATO airspace twice this week.

Two RAF Typhoons quickly set off from Poland to intercept a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M intelligence aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea on Tursday.

Another two were scrambled due to unknown aircraft leaving Kaliningrad two days later on Thursday.

Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard said: ‘The UK is unshakeable in its commitment to NATO.

‘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.’

It’s less than a month since the RAF jets were moved to Poland’s Malbork Airbase to ‘protect against any threat’ as part of NATO’s Operation Chessman, Wing Commander Christopher Jacob said.

Near the northern coast of Poland, Malbork is roughly 40 miles southeast of the heavily militarised Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, home to Russia’s Black Sea fleet.

It was in this area that Russia is believed to have jammed the satellite signal of an RAF jet carrying the UK’s then-Defence Secretary Grant Shapps last year.

He had just watched hundreds of British troops take part in NATO’s biggest exercise since the Cold War.

The military alliance has increasingly turned its attention to Poland and the Baltic states that border Russia.

Vladimir Putin has long waged a war of espionage, sabotage and assassinations across Europe.

But the war in Ukraine and threats to launch nuclear weapons has sparked fear that Russia could invade other countries in Eastern and northern Europe.

That’s why Sweden and Finland have now joined NATO after years of claiming neutrality, and why the UK, along with Sweden, stationed fighter jets at Malbork as part of Operation Chessman.

If Russia was to wage war, a narrow stretch of land between Kaliningrad and Russia’s ally Belarus would likely be one of the most hotly contested areas.

Capture the so-called Suwałki Gap, and Russia could cut off the Baltic states from their European allies.

Six Typhoon jets and around 200 personnel from the UK’s Expeditionary Air Wing are stationed at Malbork.

They were previously deployed in Romania and Iceland.

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