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.
Another spy plane encroached on Nato airspace two days later
RAF
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.”
The UK’s deployment of six Typhoon jets and nearly 200 personnel from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing is the country’s latest contribution to Nato’s air policing efforts, after similar operations in Romania and Iceland last year.
The MoD said it represented a “landmark in Nato integration” with jets from RAF Lossiemouth operating alongside Swedish Gripens, the first time Sweden has contributed fighter aircraft to another ally’s air policing since joining Nato in 2024.
The British jets responded as part of Operation Chessman, a new Nato mission to improve Europe’s air defences
AS1 SHAUNA MARTIN RAF
Russia has become increasingly aggressive in the skies to probe Nato air defences since its invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
In November, two jets from Lossiemouth had to be scrambled to intercept a Russian bomber over the North Sea that was approaching UK airspace. Then in February, the Norwegian air force sent up F-35 jets to intercept two Kremlin bombers and their fighter escorts in the Arctic Circle.
The latest intercepts came after John Healey, the defence secretary, co-led a Nato meeting in which more than 50 nations pledged £21 billion of support to Ukraine, the department said.
In August last year, the RAF also deployed four F-35B jets, the most advanced fighters in the world, to Iceland to defend Nato’s northern airspace.
The air force’s quick reaction alert forces are based at RAF Coningsby, Lossiemouth, and Brize Norton.