RAF Typhoon fighter jets were scrambled twice last week to intercept Russian aircraft flying close to Nato airspace over the Baltic Sea, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.
On Tuesday, two Typhoons from Malbork airbase in Poland intercepted a Russian Ilyushin Il-20M 'Coot-A' intelligence aircraft. Two days later, another pair of Typhoons were scrambled to intercept an unknown aircraft leaving Kaliningrad airspace near Nato territory.
The MoD said these were the RAF's first scrambles as part of Operation Chessman, following the deployment of six Typhoon jets and nearly 200 personnel to eastern Poland alongside Sweden. Armed forces minister Luke Pollard said the UK was 'unshakeable' in its commitment to Nato, adding: '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.'
The deployment marks a milestone in Nato integration, with RAF Lossiemouth jets operating alongside Swedish Gripen fighters for the first time since Sweden joined the alliance in 2024. The intercepts come after Defence Secretary John Healey attended a Nato meeting in Brussels where over 50 nations pledged £21bn in support for Ukraine.
