British jets fend off Russian warplanes buzzing U.S. ship

A Russian fighter jet conducted low-altitude passes near a United States Navy ship in the Baltic Sea on Sunday, prompting a rapid response from Royal Air Force Typhoons deployed under NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission.

The incident occurred on 8 June, when RAF Typhoon FGR4 aircraft based at Malbork Air Base in Poland were scrambled to intercept two unidentified aircraft leaving Kaliningrad airspace. Upon interception, the aircraft were identified as a pair of armed Russian Su-24M ‘FENCER D’ tactical bombers.

According to the RAF, once the Typhoons established visual contact, the Russian jets split formation. One Su-24 then proceeded to conduct low-level manoeuvres near the USNS William McLean, a Military Sealift Command vessel operating in international waters.

The USNS William McLean is a 210-metre-long Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship operated by the United States Navy’s Military Sealift Command, designed to deliver ammunition, food, fuel, spare parts, and other dry cargo to naval battle groups at sea, with a cargo capacity of approximately 6,005 tonnes and equipped with both underway replenishment and vertical replenishment capabilities to support sustained maritime operations.

RAF Typhoons continued to shadow the FENCER aircraft until they left the vicinity of the NATO vessel. While the precise altitude of the Russian passes has not been disclosed, the event is being viewed within NATO circles as a deliberate act of intimidation, following a pattern of increased Russian military activity near alliance borders.

This was part of a wider surge in intercept activity during the week, with RAF aircraft scrambled six times over six consecutive days, intercepting 15 Russian aircraft—including intelligence-gathering Il-20 ‘COOT A’, An-30 ‘CLANK’ reconnaissance aircraft, and Tu-142 maritime patrol bombers escorted by Su-27 fighters.

Personnel from across the RAF are deployed to Poland as part of Operation CHESSMAN, under the command of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing. The UK contingent is working closely with allies—including the United States and NATO’s newest member, Sweden—to maintain airspace integrity and deter aggressive behaviour.

The aircraft involved

The Eurofighter Typhoon FGR4 is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing multirole combat aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force. It is capable of both air superiority and ground attack missions. Powered by two EJ200 turbofan engines, the Typhoon can reach speeds of over Mach 2.0 and has a combat radius of approximately 1,390 km. It is equipped with the Captor-M radar, PIRATE infrared search and track system, and a comprehensive Defensive Aids Sub-System (DASS). The aircraft carries a wide array of weapons including AMRAAM, ASRAAM, Paveway IV, and Brimstone missiles.

The Sukhoi Su-24M, known by its NATO designation Fencer D, is a supersonic, all-weather tactical bomber developed by the Soviet Union. It features variable-geometry wings and is powered by two AL-21F-3A afterburning turbojet engines. With a top speed of Mach 1.4 and a combat radius of around 600–1,100 km depending on payload, the Su-24M is designed for low-level penetration and precision strike missions. It can carry a variety of ordnance including guided missiles, free-fall bombs, and electronic warfare pods. The aircraft typically requires a two-person crew and is equipped with terrain-following radar and targeting systems for low-altitude flight in contested environments.