RAF Typhoons scrambled six times in just one week to face Russian bombers

Daily Record

16-06-2025

Typhoons are part of a British-led NATO enhanced air policing mission over the Baltic region
The RAF has been forced to scramble fighter jets over Poland six times in a single week to ward off 15 Russian military aircraft encroaching near NATO airspace.
The Typhoon FGR4 aircraft, stationed at the 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork, Poland, carried out these missions from 7th to 12th June.
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These six incidents represent the most intense period for the air force since being deployed in the region on 1st April as part of Operation Chessman, highlighting an increase in Russian intelligence-gathering operations in the Baltics.
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In line with the UK's commitment to NATO's defence, it has relocated both aircraft and personnel to the enhanced air policing mission, including the fourth-generation jet.
The first aerial confrontation occurred on 7th June when RAF pilots were dispatched to identify an aircraft leaving the Kaliningrad region, later confirmed to be an Antonov An-30, a Soviet-era reconnaissance craft used for terrain mapping via aerial photography, reports the Express.
The two Typhoons that were subsequently deployed to intercept were re-tasked to shadow another surveillance-reconnaissance aircraft, the Ilyushin Il-20M COOT A.
The fourth-generation UK fighter jets are equipped with advanced radar, sensor fusion capabilities, and a broad suite of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions to aid with the interceptions.
However, the following day, the RAF were once again scrambled to intercept two unknown contacts, later identified as supersonic, all-weather tactical Su-24 bombers.
During this mission, the UK jets split up as one of the Su-24s conducted low-altitude flybys of a US Navy cargo ship operating in international waters in a clear act of provocation.
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In the following days, more reconnaissance planes were repelled, exhibiting similar intelligence-gathering patterns near NATO airspace.
Meanwhile, a Tupolev Tu-142 BEAR F, an aircraft designed for anti-submarine warfare, was spotted being escorted by two Su-27 FLANKER B fighter jets.
Russia continues to antagonise NATO personnel with these reconnaissance missions and close flybys, with the defensive alliance preparing for its Atlantic Trident 25 air exercise, hosted by Finland.
The multinational drill will run from today (Monday) until June 27 and will be performed for the first time outside of either the United States, United Kingdom or France.
In tandem with the exercise series, the US has deployed dozens of refuelling aircraft across the North Atlantic, towards Europe, with the volume of aircraft unlikely to correlate with the Atlantic Trident.
The aircraft heading for Europe include KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-46 Pegasus tankers. This mass migration could be related to ongoing bombing campaigns carried out by both Israel and Iran who continue to heighten tensions in the Middle East.